Customer Reviews

Baduizm

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

With all the naked sounding R&B, elevator jazz and overproduced soul music out there, this album is a left-field surprise. "Baduizm" has a clear-headed grip on R&B, jazz, funk and soul all at once. Only D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" album can contest with this one for best debut of the 90's. The album has a very slow, mellow vibe to it, with occasional punches of energy, like on the funky "Appletree." This is the type of music where you could relax with your lover, do the dishes, or cook dinner. It works on many levels. Erykah's lyrics have a very positive, earthy, rastafarian vibe to them and she tries not to be too preachy; although you can always smell the incense when she sings. This album actually sounds like something that might have emerged from the ecclectic, early 1990's; when rap, R&B, and soul artists weren't all trying to sound like each other.

Some people say Lauryn Hill is everything that Erykah Badu wanted to be. This doesn't sound anything like Lauryn Hill and it shouldn't. Erykah carved out a nice sound for herself on this album that should guarantee her longevity in music as long as she expands on it. A great, jazzy "chillin' out" album.

Erykah Badu's debut album is loaded with old school jazz and modern r&b that's as tighly woven as her famous mile-high headdress. "Badizum" is a classy, towering release; for me, it conjures up images of a Saturday evening at your local jazz club or a cool, sun-drenched Sunday morning. It gives off a calming, peaceful vibe, and it's a near-masterpiece that can't be likened to anything else. Badu's voice, often compared to the grittiness of Billie Holliday, is elegantly restrained; yet, it is its modesty that makes it all the more powerful. There's the jazzed-up swing of the hit "On and On," the soulful swagger of "Four Leaf Clover," and the bangin' "Rimshot." Badu's voice is effortlessly smooth as she croons her way through these slightly hip-hop-flavored slices of r&b. I was first introduced to the music of Badu at a beach party a few years back. The single was "On and On," whose hook made me take a mental note to run and grab her disc. I'm glad I did. And so will you.

Erykah Badu is a very gifted & talented singer, songwriter and actress. Her soothing blends of old-school jazz & soul influences create an amazing backdrop of seductive beats, and a distinctive vocal style. With a musical approach that contains highly mature lyrics, Badu scats her way through an album of masterpieces.

From the opening "Rimshot Intro" all the way to the closing "Rimshot Outro", Badu offers us an in depth look into her wonderful life filled with poetic visions and respected insights. "On & On" is a treasure, as is the hip-hop influenced "Apple Tree". "Otherside of the Game" is silky smooth and my personal favorite track "Next Lifetime" is a tale of reincarnated love.

Though some found "Afro" humarious, it carried a very distinct message, that Badu plays nobodys fool. Other sure fire favorites include "Certainly", "Four Leaf Clover", "Drama" and "Sometimes".

The lyrical content varies from track to track, and its nice to hear Badu's unique style of blended music put together onto one terrific album. She is definetly gifted and I hope that all her releases leave me as happy as this one in the future.

My recent purchase of Erykah's newest cd, Mama's Gun, urged me to revisit Baduizm and also Erykah Badu Live today. I imagine that Erykah's music is in the "R&B" section of most retail outlets. Since I am a person who generally detests "modern R&B", this 5 stars speaks volumes about Erykah as an artist. Whereas most MTV-era R&B is happy just to be lovey-dovey, radio-friendly fluff, Erykah has chosen to actually express spirit, soul, and emotion, all the while avoiding the cliches in which almost all of her contemporaries indulge.

"Other Side Of The Game" is the story of a woman trapped in a bad situation by both love and circumstance. "Drama" seems to be both a veiled plea for the worlds peoples to be helped, as well as a simple answer to those same problems. "Sometimes" is another masterpiece! The way the main lyrics weave in and around the background vocals is perfect and it really brings the words to life and gives them even more dimension. The list goes on, but my words won't do justics to any of these songs anyway.

Erykah is proof-positive that the Soul and Ecstatic Spirit of traditional African cultures and religions can indeed hold a strong place in modern popular music. With so much popular music being little more than pandering to the lowest-common-denominator in hopes of cashing in, Baduizm was and still is a life-breath of ancient wisdom made accessible to the masses. Oh, and did I mention her voice is beautiful?

Its so hard to write a review almost 10 years after the fact. And 10 years later there has been nothing like this cd. Erykah hasn't even topped her self.
Sometimes you can only do it once and i guess that's what all it took cause this album is still undisputed.
No need to list favorties...we all them from the radio and videos but for your whole album to be mind-blowing is CRAZY.
Anyone who doesn't have this album by now, smack your self and go get it.

"Erykah Goodu" as I have so regally named her has spun a web of song's that would cure any black widow's bite. She combines smoothness with a variety of down-to-earth, and even sometimes humorous topics. She swings the listener to her side with the opening "Rimshot", and then exposes her broad range of aural colors in "On and On". This title is foreshadowing for the rest of the album which keeps the audience groovin' on and on and on and on......................

Until I heard the Badu album, I was becoming lulled to sleep by the same sounding female R&B singers of today, but she seems to give a new perspective to life in the urban world. This album has a very slow, mellow vibe to it, with occasional punches of energy, like on the funky "Appletree." This is the type of music where you could relax with your lover, do the dishes, or cook dinner. It works on many levels.

Erykah shows chivalry in underworld activities when she describes the predicament a lover involved in illegal faces. She even shows the rationale, and almost innocence in the tempting feel of another lover. The band she has supporting her give her the perfect baselines, and soulful sounds that she needs to reign as the new female vocal champion. The "Afro" skit deserves extra special mention for pure comic value in a combination of 20's style singing and 90's style dissing. Erykah's lyrics have a very positive, earthy, Rastafarian vibe to them and she tries not to be too preachy; although you can always smell the incense when she sings. This album actually sounds like something that might have emerged from the eclectic, early 1990's; when rap, R&B, and soul artists weren't all trying to sound like each other.

Badu had certainly found a niche in the music world with this album. If giving a fair shake this woman could be dangerous. She has a straight up writing style about her and her voice just comes at you. She is a hip-hop take on Sade with dramatic flair and storytelling to match. Erykah is one true artist that should be placed into your music collection.

You know that feeling when you make up in the morning after ten hours sleep and you know that those ten hours have been absolute bliss for you, and you want to have the same feeling for the day thats ahead of you. Well, thats how I felt after the listening to this whole album. While listening to the first two tracks (the gentle bop of "Rimshot" to the swinging bluse of "On & On"), this will make you automatically feel so comfy on the seat that you're sitting on. When the bassline of "Otherside Of The Game" hums out, your heart will absolutely ooze with emotion. Not only is The Root's production of every track just pristine clean, but its Miss Badu's voice that gets my hat off. She doesn't so much sing with it as she does BLEED with it. Her lyrics really make you think about people and what they mean to you. There are also funk jazz tracks that will get you on your feet and bounce to the rhythm, like "Certainly" and "4 Leaf Clover". On the whole, this album isn't just one of the pinnacles of the R&B genre, it defies the artists that work in the genre. For me, I've a few lessons on life through this album. I've never had the pleasure of falling in love, but this album definitely shows what I'm missing out on.

Odd as it sounds, I really enjoy listening to this album when I'm sleepy. It lets me relax and eventually fall dead asleep. The rhythm and music is just so soothing and relaxing. This definatly isn't driving music if that's what you're looking for. Though some of the songs on this album sound the same, I give Erykah Badu credit because she was truley an influence in modern day r&b and soul, thus paving the way for such artists as Angie Stone and Macy Gray. She is definatly an interesting figure in the music industry, known for her body jewlery and hair raps (I remember hearing Billy Crystal commenting at the Academy Awards on her infamous hair wrap: "They finally found the last missing Oscar. It was found under Erykah Badu's wrap." LOL) Hit songs include "On & On", "Appletree" and one of my favorites, "Certainly." Another song I also enjoy is the catchy, "4 Leaf Clover" as well as the "Intro" and "Outro." "Next Lifetime" I also remember hearing on the radio and is catchy as well. So, if you're interested in modern Soul/R&B that you can relax to (Whether it be at dinner or going to bed) this CD is reccomended.

When I first heard On & on, I quickly labeled it the modern R/B that we have to suffer through. Boring, effortless, over-produced and under-sang (if that's a term). But after giving "Baduizm" a shot, I quickly ate my words and removed the label I gave it. The album flows like a Broadway show, with drifting and re-occuring melodies, but it also has that classic R/B and jazz sound that made that music so popular such a long time ago. The album starts off with what would be the equivalent of an overture, and closes with the same type of song, a truly underused concept that can make or break an album. Then you are treated to the album's first single, and truly, the jewel of the album. I can't believe that at one time I thought this song was mindless, it's brilliant. It has depth and feeling, something missing in most of the R/B today. The songs "Appletree" through "Next Limetime" play like a mini movie, reaching their high points and low points, and all the while keeping the classic feel and beat, and showing the diversity of Erykah's voice. "Afro" is what lost this album its fifth star, its the pot-hole in the road, the thorn on the rose. It makes you think you actually don't like the album, even though the songs are so great. I really think the song "Tyrone" from Erykah's live album should have replaced "Afro", it would have the album an instant classic. The rest of the album plays like the climax of the show, getting moody and thrilling, and then closes with the opening song, and you get that feeling like when you get back from a vacation, your happy to be home, but you can't wait to go back.

Erykah Badu's debut classic album "BADUIZM" is such a remarkable album with a blend of old school, jazz, hip-hop, rap, funk, groovy sounds, you name it. She's such a powerful artist with more rhythm to get in2 your soul. I actually luv her from the beginning since she put out her first album. Well the first tape I ever listen from her was she taped it live support her most classic masterpiece to date. This what changed me. I would love to go pick it up and definitely recommend D'Angelo, Guru, Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Floetry, Dwele, Groove Theory, Maxwell, The Brand New Heavies feat. N'Dea Davenport, Jamiroquai, Common, The Roots, Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Slum Village, John Legend, Anthony Hamilton, Heather Headley, and many others I can see on my list.
Love her voice hopes she puts out 'nother one in the future.