Me'Shell: Not Digging Her Recent Stuff Like An Old Soul Record

WJGreer · #1 11-19-2011, 10:09 AM

This morning I spun "Plantation Lullabies", and I was completely drawn in by Me'Shell Ndegeocello's talent once again. I love this record, and I love "Peace Beyond Passion" even more. Even her mid-career R&B records have an appeal to me.

Her recent two or three records seem to have been written and recorded by a different person to my ears. They seem not to be as groove-focused and the changes are flat out weird.

I can understand how this recent stuff, everything from "Spirit Music Jamia" onward, is more musically adventurous. And the strength of some of the collaborations can't be denied - yet to my ears it's just less diggable than the first few records. My ass moveth not.

Agree, disagree?

Queg · #2 11-19-2011, 11:39 AM

Regretfully must agree.

I feel compelled to support artists when they move on to new sounds.. but no denying the fact that those first couple of albums were just plain slammin'.

Perhaps sometimes it's best to return to what you do best...

markjazzbassist · #3 11-19-2011, 02:41 PM

i really dug the groove and soul of comfort woman, spirit jamia, and the world has made me the man of my dreams. cool groovy soul-jazz/funk-jazz type stuff, far out and cool.

but this new stuff? singer/songwriter blah blah might as well be another "best hits of the 80's 90's and today" radio artist. can't stand it, won't support it.

also i saw an interview where she doesn't want to play her old stuff anymore, only her new stuff. really? you ain't prince, heck you ain't even half as good as prince and you're pulling that?

JimK · #4 11-19-2011, 03:02 PM

A longtime TB'er named Bruce (outta the UK) once critiqued Bitter...he, like most of us, dug the 1st two Me'Shell albums...anyway, he said after listening to Bitter...he was bitter.
Good ol' Bruce. We miss his Lindfielding around here.

fleabee · #5 11-20-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queg

Regretfully must agree.

I feel compelled to support artists when they move on to new sounds.. but no denying the fact that those first couple of albums were just plain slammin'.

Perhaps sometimes it's best to return to what you do best...

Agree as well...

DWBass · #6 11-20-2011, 11:40 AM

Yeah, she doesn't seem to be about the funk anymore! Shame! But some musos/songwriters move on. Too bad, she'll lose a lot of fans along the way!

bongomania · #7 11-20-2011, 11:45 AM

I heard "Dirty World" on the radio just a couple days ago, and for the first minute I was thinking "holy crap I love this bass groove, who is this killer tight bassist?"... Then the bass groove stopped, or faded to the background of the mix, and the remaining few minutes were a slow boring blur of ambient pop. Yecch. When the announcer said it was Me'shell, I was very confused.

Kwesi · #8 11-20-2011, 02:43 PM

Yeah, I've gotta agree that her new stuff isn't quite as fun or powerful musically.

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

also i saw an interview where she doesn't want to play her old stuff anymore, only her new stuff. really? you ain't prince, heck you ain't even half as good as prince and you're pulling that?

But, I completely disagree with this. As as artist, it sounds like she's trying to move forward and not look back, nothing wrong with that. And I love her stuff and Prince's stuff but if given a choice I'd always pick Meshell. I don't know of many other artists that can go from stupid-heavy funk grooves to some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard all within one album. So, yeah. Better than Prince? Damn straight.

jerry · #9 11-21-2011, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

A longtime TB'er named Bruce (outta the UK) once critiqued Bitter...he, like most of us, dug the 1st two Me'Shell albums...anyway, he said after listening to Bitter...he was bitter.
Good ol' Bruce. We miss his Lindfielding around here.

I didn't know Bruce wasn't around anymore, I figured he just hung around the DB section.
Back on topic, I dig Me'shell's recent work, some artist grow in a direction that we might not care for, but at least they grow.

clodhopper · #10 11-21-2011, 07:13 AM

I agree entirely. First 2 records, great and I listen to them regularly. After that, I've tried and tried to like them but I don't get it.
I can understand an artist wishing to move on, and that she didn't want to be restricted by the Neo Soul label, but it seems like she's abandoned her original fan base which can't be a good thing.

WJGreer · #11 11-21-2011, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

I didn't know Bruce wasn't around anymore, I figured he just hung around the DB section.

I checked, his last post was just a few days ago.

Dr. Cheese · #12 11-22-2011, 05:42 AM

I have liked very little that Meshell has done in the last ten years. I have all the respect in the world for her, but her current music just doesn't do it for me.

BobaFret · #13 11-22-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I have liked very little that Meshell has done in the last ten years. I have all the respect in the world for her, but her current music just doesn't do it for me.

same here. Peace Beyond Passion was a decent follow up but then Bitter just shut the funk down.

There is some cool stuff on Cookie that I liked but she's changed gears significantly.

I'm not mad though, Plantation Lullabies was so f'n sick it really changed me as a player. It came into my life at just the right time.

bass12 · #14 11-22-2011, 11:02 AM

It'a a pity that one of the funkiest people on the planet ceases to put that feel on record. My favourite album of hers was "Plantation Lullabies". I also really liked "Peace Beyond Passion", parts of "Cookie" and parts of "Comfort Woman". The last two albums are not in my collection - and probably won't be. As much as Me'shell might be tripping on the more pop rock thing, to me her voice is not suited to that music at all. It just doesn't work (kind of like my voice not working for R&B!). I respect what I view as artistic integrity on her part. She does what she wants more than what might be expected of her. That's great but, as a fan of her early work, I'm not moved by her current direction. Quite frankly, I'm surprised that she doesn't have a need for some kind of outlet where the more funk-oriented stuff is concerned (since that seemed to be so much a part of her being). On a side note, does anyone know if she's still living in upstate New York?

gimmeagig · #15 12-03-2011, 02:21 PM

Yeah, she's really great as a player but I can't listen to her stuff a real shame. Why can't she be bitter and funky at the same time

There are some live youtube clips out there that show how masterful she really is as a bassist, but those are just way too short.Are there any live recordings of her floating around?

WJGreer · #16 12-03-2011, 04:22 PM

^ I'm not aware of any live recordings. Shame.

jerry · #17 12-05-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WJGreer

^ I'm not aware of any live recordings. Shame.

Will, I picked up your band's 'Give It Back' album at a used CD shop, I really dug the playing/singing/sound & writing from the band, great stuff!
sorry for the derail.........

gimmeagig · #18 12-05-2011, 05:42 PM

I saw that there is a new CD out by Meshell, called Weather.
As far as I'm concerned it's just awful. What a shame, she's such a great bassist and musician, but whatever mindspace she's in, it doesn't seem to allow that side of her to come out.
It's a loss for many of us but as far as I'm concerned she's so far out that I don't think she'll ever come back.....

WJGreer · #19 12-05-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

Will, I picked up your band's 'Give It Back' album at a used CD shop, I really dug the playing/singing/sound & writing from the band, great stuff!
sorry for the derail.........

Thanks Jerry!