"New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War"の続編となるErykah Baduの新作"New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh"。 前作は政治的・社会的な問題、つまり自分の「外部」へ意識を向け、アグレッシブに攻めていく作品であったが、今作はその間逆で自分の「内面」を意識した、とても閉鎖的なのだけれど、穏やかで静かな世界を描いている。 この作品は、Part Oneからの続編というよりも、前作と合わせてErykah Baduというアーティストの持つ、二面性をとことん追求した作品のように思う。
衝撃的なPVで話題になった"Window Seat"は何故か癖になる楽曲。 まるで"Baduizm"の頃の彼女を思い起こさせるような、気だるくふわふわとした雰囲気を持つ楽曲で、それが妙に心地良かったりする。 その他にも、短いけれどインパクトの強い"Agitation"や、可愛らしいキャッチーな"Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)"。 そして、僕が個人的に好きなのが、Sly & The Family Stoneを思わせるかのような、ダウナーなファンクナンバー"Love"。 どの曲も個性的かつ魅力に溢れ、聴けば聴くほど彼女の世界観に知らぬ間に惹き込まれてしまう。
Segue un suo concept ........ quindi mettetevi comodi e fatevi tras/portare Inutile fare paragoni, sarebbe un non-sense ...... Baduzium docet Ti prende per le redini, le tiene strette e via ..... Di assoluto livello, prodotto, suonato ed arrangiato ai massimi livelli Anche e non solo per gli amanti del genere, a patto però (questi ultimi) di far partire il player senza preconcetti/preclusioni ....... Fatevi portare e lo riascoltere più e più volte
PS: analogamente anche per il PART ONE .......... qui abbiamo una partenza al fulmicotone con un primo brano che Sly & The Family avrebbe voluto scrivere ....... superbo ! ....... ti ricaccia esattamente nei 70' ..... STREPITOSO!
Only recently rediscovered Erykah Badu. Actually bought 3 of her albums in one go and for some reason didn't get into them initially. But decided to make a concerted effort to listen again whilst on summer holiday. I became obsessed with all of them and wouldn't/couldn't listen to anything else for quite some time. Now own all of her stuff and can't wait for a new release.
From this one.....I do believe that Erykah Badu is incapable of making a cd that isn't listenable and when you listen closely, you will hear one of the most interesting artists of our time. I love all of Erykah's works, with Mama's Gun still being the standout....but this one here, is quite enjoyable. Different from New Amerykah One, where she took on the politics of the day, #2 tackles love and relationships. And she's cleva, as usual (On Turn Me Away, she says she'll "cook like your mother;" the image of that alone, brings a smile when I hear it). From first track (20 Ft Tall) to last (Out of My Mind), Ms. Badu touches on emotions we've all experienced at some point in life. Window Seat is my new "daydreaming" song, in that sometimes, you've got to get away from what is, "take it out of town, look around and a safe touchdown." When I'm feelin' like that, I put this on right now and figure I'll be putting it on for years to come, just like Erykah's other works. I love her music.