FIRST!

First day of the month.
First song of the album.
Four songs.













Amel Larrieux "For Real" // Bravebird (2004)


I saw Amel live at Borders back in 1999 right on Michigan Ave here in Chicago. It was cramped, and the crowd had been waiting for hours. But when they finally introduced her and she took the microphone, everything was right with the world. I liked Groove Theory and the joint she did with Sweetback was tight, but it was the free concert she gave at Borders that made me a true fan. Amel has a beautiful and flawless voice.

Now when it comes to making music and constructing an album, I give the nod to the girl from Dallas, TX, Erykah Badu. Jill Scott has her moments, and I'm still trying to catch up with the likes of Conya Doss and Ledisi. But right now I can't think of another singer in the past decade that can touch Amel.

Unfortunately a lot of her later albums have suffered from lackluster and lazy production. I haven't heard her latest effort which consists of her singing a bunch of covers ala Boyz II Men. Bravebird took a while for me to digest, but after a few spins from start to finish, the real shine of the album has started to glow. A much darker but mature album than Infinite Possibilities.

"For Real" is just an example of Amel's talents.













Brand Nubian "All For One" // One For All (1990)


I look forward to writing the "FIRST" column every first of the month for two reasons. One, because some of the best songs in the hisotry of music are ones that begin an album. Two, because I get to use this blog as a confessional. Here is another album that I JUST got around to listening to (I know, I know). I actually owned Grand Puba's 2000 and Brand Nubian's Foundation albums before this one. Just like Long Live The Kane, I knew about the popular songs ("Slow Down") but I never jumped on the full album. And I don't know why I've slept so long cause both Grand Puba and Sadat X have two of the most distinct voices in hip hop.

Anyway, here I am eighteen years late listening to some great hip hop from the early nineties.













Me'Shell N'degeocello "Love Song #1" // Comfort Woman (2003)


It was one of those strange days where I didn't interact with anyone. I didn't receive any phone calls, didn't answer any emails, nothing. I was just at home by myself. By the time noon hit I started thinking to myself, "Man, I should get out of the house and do...something!"

All I can remember from that day was walking out of Dustygroove with this CD and playing it no less than five times. I wish I could post the entire album cause I think it's really good. Probably her best since Bitter (not better...just really good).

Me'Shell is what I miss about going to live shows. Her band is always sick, and despite the rumors I've heard, I've always left satisfied.














Funkadelic "Nappy Dugout" // Cosmic Slop (1973)

Funkadelic was the group that started this blog, and it has been too long since I've posted some more of the great goodness that came from this group. I knew of the Tribe sample for a while, but it wasn't until just recently that "Nappy Dugout" hit me. And when it hit me, it was hard!

Oh, "Nappy Dugout" is also a slang term referring to the vagina.