Top Artists - Week Ending 2007-09-23

With a mini-review of Jill Scott

by j. brotherlove

My chart didn’t change much from last week so I won’t review those artists again. A brief analysis and mini-review of Jill Scott after the jump.

Jill Scott Is The Real Thing

The biggest difference in my chart this week is the number one spot where Jill Scott is representing in honor of her new disc The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3.

This is not another Beautifully Human (thankgod). Jill Scott’s last disc of original material had some great tracks but was disjointed (landing on my list of 10 (Least) Favorite CDs of 2004).

The Real Thing is nearly perfect; focused, assured (even in its insecurities) and extremely sensual. While today’s pop/R&B princesses play at sexuality, The Real Thing offers the mature nuances of a newly single woman.

Fans anxious to hear how Scott’s recent divorce has affected her music may be surprised by the amount of lyrics like “It’s just all the things I see / when you’re inside of me / that keeps my mind going crazy” and “Tease me, please me, spank me, feed me / you know what I need baby” (“All I”); or “No chocolate kisses / No nappy dugout ever” (“How It Make You Feel”).

Scott sums up her situation beautifully on “Wanna Be Loved” singing “Don’t feel no pity for me cause I’m going through a couple things / Life means change / That’s the way it goes”. Grammy nomination guaranteed. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

The Rest

Peter Hadar returns to my top 10 based on my recommending it to a friend. I saw Hadar perform early this year and immediately purchased his debut Memories Of The Heart. Solid R&B/soul with some left turns here and there. Worth the price for “First Sight” alone. Think play cousin to Eric Roberson and you have an idea of Hadar’s flavor.

Rahsaan Patterson is back with his fourth disc, Wines & Spirits. I’m a huge Rahsaan fan. Few male soul singers today have his amount of flexibility and control of their voice. Also, his songwriting skills are top notch. That said, I’m not sure how I feel about his new disc. He’s clearly experimenting a bit which I applaud. But I have to listen to it some more.

I fell in love with Lewis Taylor 10 years ago and continue to play his phenomenal brand of psychedelic, soul/pop music as if it’s just been released. He “retired” last year, reportedly disgusted with the music industry. Let’s hope he changes his mind; Joni Mitchell has (*happy dance*).

Miles Davis is a legend. One of my favorite musical moments was attending his last concert tour in 1991. He died shortly afterward from a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure at the age of 65.

Nas is another legend (and deserves a better website than that wack shit at Def Jam). Still living and writing masterpieces despite what dumbasses like Bill O’Reilly thinks (be sure to watch my man Jay Smooth break down If Bill O’Reilly Was A Rapper).

Man, I didn’t know Rahsaan came out with another album. I’m so ready for tomorrow. I definitely will pick up Jill’s new album. How have you heard the whole cd already?

#1 - thanks on the jill scott review. i was a little disappointed with the last disc.

#2 - thanks on the rahsaan mention. i didn’t even know he had a new joint. he’s one of my favorite artists.

I, too, was disappointed in the last Jill Scott CD. But “The Real Thing” more than makes up for it. It IS pretty much perfect. Thanks for the review. I’m looking at that new Joni Mitchell, too. :)

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