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Album Club
01-06-2018, 19:27
The Album Club Choice for June comes courtesy of Geoff (oldius) with Me'Shell Ndegeocello's 'Peace Beyond Passion'. As always, please listen to the album in its entirety before you comment and/or vote.



Me'Shell Ndegeocello - 'Peace Beyond Passion'

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81t0K0VbQWL._SL1307_.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Beyond_Passion

Arriving 22 years ago, this album sounds as fresh today as it did then. Backed by stellar musicians such as Luis Conte, Wah Wah Watson, Wendy Melvoin and Billy Preston, this soulful album hits hard lyrically, while Me'Shells textured, rhthmic basslines throb, providing the foundations upon which her words can bite and question.

The album is a masterful recording and one I return to continually. Music remains my biggest passion yet I rarely find a combination of wonderful lyrics and musicianship, delivered with such a pristine, yet organic, natural sound. The final track, 'Makes Me Wanna Holler' remains a reference for me, and one that I have played many times for others, often resulting in an online purchase there and then!

Allmusic summarise the album brilliantly: "It's new age soul that's as spiritually purifying as it is musically sophisticated."

https://open.spotify.com/album/0jmwxReVZ7hNQ26bZWQ35Q?si=q7XTmDDaSuKrRpIVJJWtgw

Ian7633
02-06-2018, 14:36
I had two listens to this last night but was utterly sold on it within the first two tracks. I love this type of music, properly serious lyrics, not the usual banal, squidgy crap and earthy, soulful rhythms coupled with top flight musicianship. Needless to say I've ordered a copy. 10/10 from me. Excellent choice for this months club.

oldius
02-06-2018, 15:25
I had two listens to this last night but was utterly sold on it within the first two tracks. I love this type of music, properly serious lyrics, not the usual banal, squidgy crap and earthy, soulful rhythms coupled with top flight musicianship. Needless to say I've ordered a copy. 10/10 from me. Excellent choice for this months club.Great stuff!
Her other albums are also excellent, especially Bitter and Comfort Woman. All of them to be honest.

Ian7633
02-06-2018, 16:16
Great stuff!
Her other albums are also excellent, especially Bitter and Comfort Woman. All of them to be honest.

I'll be listening to more of her work, I'm just trying to find any on vinyl if it exists.

oldius
02-06-2018, 17:57
I'll be listening to more of her work, I'm just trying to find any on vinyl if it exists.It does, but tends to be quite expensive in the UK and the pressing I have is not that good. I stuck to CD after that.

Ian7633
02-06-2018, 19:14
It does, but tends to be quite expensive in the UK and the pressing I have is not that good. I stuck to CD after that.

That's handy to know Geoff, I'll stick to the CD's. I listened to the album again, I'm smitten with it.

oldius
02-06-2018, 19:21
That's handy to know Geoff, I'll stick to the CD's. I listened to the album again, I'm smitten with it.

I'm glad. It's one I return to regularly, as is she. I'm surprised she is not a bigger name, but pleased because she has been able to produce music she believes in.

gsq4848
09-06-2018, 09:15
I hadn't heard of the artist before. The introduction in the thread tempted me to purchase a CD. Got a nice copy of eBay for the princely sum of £1.99! It's a good listen (I've played it twice). I particularly like how the bass comes through on some of the tracks. I haven't contributed to Album Club before so my score might come in a bit too high at a strong 8/10!

Thanks for the recommendation Geoff.

oldius
09-06-2018, 11:06
Great. Do try and listen to her other stuff; a top-notch talent who straddles R&B, jazz and hip-hop with equal aplomb.

tubehunter
14-06-2018, 16:49
Thanks for this, reminds me that I have Plantation Lullabies, her 1993 debut studio album.
An excellent bass player and singer.
Lots of exposure on YouTube

Happy Days

Barry
25-08-2018, 21:53
New to me, and my initial impressions were favourable - I love that nice growly bass. However I often find with this sort of jazz-funk, a little goes a long way. Also I tend to dislike rap-like delivery of lyrics that 'preach' a message; eloquent though that message may be. So I'm afraid by the time I got to the end, I had become rather bored.

So a bit of a curate's egg for me, 6/10.