Frankly, I’m not feeling it. Happy as I am to hear any new stuff from Gil, this set comes up short. Literally. There’s less than 30 minutes of material. And four of the tracks aren’t even new writing.
“Your Soul and Mine” is an inferior remake of one of Gil’s earliest pieces, “The Vulture.” There’s a Robert Johnson cover (“Me and the Devil”) and a Bobby “Blue” Bland cover (“I’ll Take Care of You”). The title track is a cover of an underground rock tune by Bill Callahan.
I also don’t dig the soulless electronic soundscapes designed by Gil’s new British sponsor, Richard Russell. For example, click here to hear “On Coming from a Broken Home (Pt. 1).”
Contrary opinions welcomed.
UPDATE (02/15/10): I must report that “I’m New Here” is getting rave reviews in the British press... particularly in the Daily Telegraph (“...a revelation”) and the Guardian (“... one of the year’s best albums”).For whatever that’s worth.
18 comments:
I trust your musical judgment. I'd like to know whether we should skip this altogether?
I watched the video for "Me and the Devil" and I really like the raw, scratchy sound.
I haven't heard any of the other cuts though.
DeAng: If you can find it for cheap... maybe.
I hesitate to even call it a Gil Scott-Heron record. It's not his music.
Getting ready to put together a review myself. Certainly happy to see Gil back. But I am wondering if Gil settled, that is if Gil settled for the first deal that came along.
Keep in mind that before going to prison, Gil had burned many a bridge. So, I'm sure because of his past record of not being dependable and being notoriously difficult to work with, did record companies simply shun him and he simply took what was available.
There are one or two tracks oh the album that I kinda like, but there's nothing there that makes me yell "HELL YEAH!" like back in the day. And I am disappointed that he only actually wrote one song on this whole album. He states that he didn't write anything while incarcerated, but I find this hard to believe. You got nothing but time on your hands to think and you come up with nothing?
Maybe a couple more listens, and I'll feel better.
Maybe a couple more listens, and I'll feel better.
Or the opposite.
Thanks for the comment, Max. He only wrote one of these pieces?
When he's ready to get real with himself... and deal like an artist with the way drugs fucked his life up... then he'll be able to make a record that belongs with his other ones.
Can't bring myself to listen to anything. That picture of him with no upper teeth is so sad.
You hit the nail on the head. He needs to write the confession suite.
The Robert Johnson cover is dope. I'm STILL buying it regardless; 1st of all, whack Gil-Scott is better than good Lady GaGa any day of the week. And second, if this don't sell at least decently, there's a good chance you won't be seeing him getting "real" with a damn thang, 'cause there won't be any demand for it.
^ Makes sense.
Yeah, he only wrote one, that piece about New York City killing him and having to go back to Jackson, TN. Everything else were covers.
I heard a recent interview he did on NPR. When asked about the drug issue and whether or not he was clean, he began that dance he does. Years ago I thought it was clever. But after trashing his career, going to jail, and loosing his teeth, it seems a little pathetic and self-serving.
As you stated, I don't think he will really be able to make a comeback until he is able to face his demons and be truthful to himself and the public about the problems he is having and he has had.
I'm with UBM on this one, was really looking forward to it but just a dry, flat record with no soul it seems to me.
About the rave reviews in some of the British press -- I used to read Uncut regularly, and eventually realized that in these publications an American musical legend always got a free pass with any new recording. Maybe a couple of years later they'd say that it wasn't all that great, but the initial review was almost always highly positive. It's like those Oscars that some actors get at the end of their careers.
As much as he is a heartbreaker, there comes a certain comfort in hearing his voice again, in any form.
I heard some of it on the radio. It's sort of like that last Billy Holiday recording where she sounds like she can't hold down her lunch. Just on the vocals alone on the new GSH release, you can hear how a lifetime living on the edge damages your instrument. I guess for those of us who heard him in the 80s it's kind of a let down. But I wish Gil well.
we all have rent and mortgages to pay...
Gil only wrote one cut? He lost his front teeth? (Classic ongoing pipe-hitting symptom)
Let me ask this question to those who have heard the production. It seems the consensus is this production is weak. Like Dollar Bill I might still get it out of respect and curiousity. BUT ... my question is whether this piece is a Gil as caricature because I will not support that.
Sad to hear that. I haven't streamed the album yet, but I was pretty excited about it. Someone told me they saw his show and it was kind of half-assed, but people still enjoyed it since they were so happy to see him back on the scene. I'm still gonna support it regardless.
Gil only wrote one cut?
I don't have the liner notes, DeAng, but I wonder if that means only one cut for which he wrote words and music.
I think some of the other poems have to be new.
It's not a caricature, or any kind of disgrace. Just not a very hot record.
Someone told me they saw his show and it was kind of half-assed...
He played in Philly, Ash? I saw him in Philly in the early '90s... first time I heard "The Other Side." Blew my mind.
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