New Amerykah, Pt 1 (4th World War) by Erykah Badu
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Artist:
As the opener to her fourth studio album New Amerykah, Pt. 1 (4th World War), “Amerykahn Promise†encompasses the full flavor that Erykah Badu has to offer this time around. Without much singing from Badu, the song brings us a 1970s funk vibe, complete with wailing police sirens and an announcer’s voice promising “more action, more excitement, more everything.†Just as the music dies down, we hear a short dialogue between the announcer and a computerized voice much like, of all characters, that of Aqua Teen’s Meatwad. Taking these sounds together, their freewheeling essence is the new driving force behind Ms. Badu’s ever-evolving brand of funk/R&B/soul.The lead single, “Honey,†misrepresents the album. As a poppy love song, it’s the most mainstream-sounding song on New Amerykah. The song appears to be an attempt at a much-needed commercial hit intended to push sales. Unable to fit in well anywhere else, “Honey†is the very last of the eleven tracks, with an introductory thank-you speech and a “Please stay tuned for New Amerykah, Pt. 2,†a countdown begins, hosted by the artist herself.
In the meantime, Pt. 1 includes musical interludes in the poetic vein (think beatniks). Listeners have come to know Erykah Badu as a smooth, fluid musician, and the addition of short “intermissions†is unexpected and jarring. The most annoying of these is the one following the (otherwise decent) song “Me.†It’s a high-pitched, autobiographical trumpet solo sing-along in the third person. On the other hand, “My People†is a chant-along, musically resembling an early Nintendo game on the tribal tip. “Master Teacher,†a flurry with special guest Georgia Anne Muldrow, repeatedly begs an answer to the question, "What if there were no ni**as, only master teachers?" before switching gears mid-song to a much more likable, mellowed out, after-hours, loungey-R&B take.
The stand-out songs of the album (“Soldier,†“The Healer,†“Honey,â€) present Erykah Badu, more or less, as you know her. In her uniquely nasalized-rasp, she sings to boys in Iraqi fields, to people on the picket line, to sisters in therapy. A sweet flute loop plays as Badu vibes over it. In her voice we can hear how each improvisational note hit, each vocal flourish, plays a role in conveying the overall mood and message of the song. Badu has been known to say she lets the music take over and create itself, and “Soldier†is a good example of this. “The Healer,†meanwhile, sounds like a fusion of cultures, while Erykah Badu sings the opening verse in either a factual or fictional foreign tongue. Regardless, her voice is full of fun inflections, all of which match with the bell-chiming, sitar-plucking beat. The hook presents a Dead Prez-alluding “Hip hop is bigger than…†scenario.
After a listen to Part 1, I’m left wondering what Miss Amerykah will have for us when Part 2 drops. I only hope she’ll be much more successful in bringing “more action, more excitement, more everything.â€
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Comments (28)
britt, i dig ur review, im sure that shes gonna go harder on the pt. 2.
peace,
p.s. if you havent checked it yet the Dave Chappelle Block Party is a must have for your dvd collection. check it out
thanks, k. Funny you mention Block Party because I was just reminded of it this past weekend and being told, "You gotta see that!" :) Alright, I'll trust y'all and see it...i'm way overdue.
peace!
oh hellz yeah!! is a dope flick, i kno that ur a music lover and kno that you'll dig this one! let me kno what you think after you watch. we could do a joint review!! dopeness!! peace