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MeShell Ndegeocello: Twenty Years Since Plantation Lullabies
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I believe this is some Dance of the Infidel era material. Meshell sounds good on bass, but I think this piece needed to develop more harmonically instead of just sticking to this one groove.
- May 30, 2000
- 4,707
- 257
- Disclosures
- Creator of: iGigBook Sheet Music Manager
If you do not think she is the funkiest or if you do not think she is worthy of such admiration, don't beat around the bush. Clearly say what mean. As I said before, me and people like me, who are fans of Meshell will keep thinking what we think. If you think differently, say what you think in no uncertain terms. I think we all are adults, we can handle a dissenting voice.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I got Plantation Lullabies a couple years ago after hearing a few tunes on internet radio (Who is he and what is he to you, something like that?) and then seeing her in "standing in the shadows".
This might be because I am a Canadian, we were where the slaves ran to so I do not understand all the deep seeded hatred and I do not see it as productive, but I found Plantation Lullabies to come of as quite racist and divisive at times. I only listened to the album once because I felt uncomfortable. I remember enjoying the album outside of the lyrical content at times but never felt compelled to listen to it again.
As far as her bass playing goes, it was good but it never really blew my pants off.
This might be because I am a Canadian, we were where the slaves ran to so I do not understand all the deep seeded hatred and I do not see it as productive, but I found Plantation Lullabies to come of as quite racist and divisive at times. I only listened to the album once because I felt uncomfortable. I remember enjoying the album outside of the lyrical content at times but never felt compelled to listen to it again.
As far as her bass playing goes, it was good but it never really blew my pants off.
I said at the beginning, I can see why some would not have been comfortable with her lyrics.
One thing that I have learned to appreciate more as I age is just how personal music is. I remember when Lou Reed dies a few weeks ago how much of an outpouring of emotion there was. Lou Reed's music never touched me, but sure respect how it made others feel. That's why I know no one is obligated to like any art because no one else can say what will move us.
She has chops, no doubt, and some of her early stuff was funky and very appealing.
I caught her show last summer at the Montreal Jazz Fest and, sorry to say, the songs were all quite mediocre and her playing (and that of her band) was not very inspiring. Her political rants got pretty tiresome, too. I had hoped for much, much more from her.
Earlier that week, I had seen performances by SMV (Stanley-Marcus-Victor), the Stanley Clarke band, Esperanza Spalding, and Victor's band -- music played at those shows was MUCH more interesting and all of a higher caliber than Meshell's music (IMO).
Years ago, I saw her play an all-star jam in New Orleans during Jazz Fest week -- much more impressive back then.
I caught her show last summer at the Montreal Jazz Fest and, sorry to say, the songs were all quite mediocre and her playing (and that of her band) was not very inspiring. Her political rants got pretty tiresome, too. I had hoped for much, much more from her.
Earlier that week, I had seen performances by SMV (Stanley-Marcus-Victor), the Stanley Clarke band, Esperanza Spalding, and Victor's band -- music played at those shows was MUCH more interesting and all of a higher caliber than Meshell's music (IMO).
Years ago, I saw her play an all-star jam in New Orleans during Jazz Fest week -- much more impressive back then.
I'm Canadian and got Plantation Lullabies when it came out (92? - can't recall). Loved it then, love it now. Like Cheese said, very personal lyrics, but I had NO problem with her lyrics as they are simply HER perspective. Even though she is coming a U.S. perspective, racism was (and is) a problem in Canada too.
Back to BASS - she is one of the funkiest players ever, and has her own vibe that I don't see in anyone else. Love her playing.
J
- May 30, 2000
- 4,707
- 257
- Disclosures
- Creator of: iGigBook Sheet Music Manager
I didn't say that. I agreed with Cheese when he said that he hadn't heard anyone funkier than Me'shell. But you seem very opinionated so please feel free to enlighten me...
Here is a great example of what I like so much about her feel. I know lots of other musicians are great. It would be hard to say anyone is funkier than Paul Jackson or Bernard Edwards, for instance, but I am huge Meshell fan!
That's one of my favourite Me'shell tracks. Love the slight go-go swing in there. The Digable Planets track off that album is also a killer.
"Plantation" blew me away when it came out.
What a groove, her tone kills.
I ran out and put flats on my Jazz after that CD.
Huge MeShell fan.
"Plantation" blew me away when it came out.
What a groove, her tone kills.
I ran out and put flats on my Jazz after that CD.
Huge MeShell fan.
IMO, Meshell has the most unflatwound tone of any flatwound player. She gets a much brighter tone than normally think of when I think of flatwounds.
I saw a YouTube vid of her playing it... Idk how she does it but at some points, she gets an almost Jaco-esque tone out of this thing! Very intriguing bass by a very intriguing bass player.
