Customer Reviews

Plantation Lullabies

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have so much to say, that it's hard to find where to begin. I will first start out by saying that I bought MNd's Bitter last year and was blown away. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of purchasing her debut disc "Plantation Lullabies" and needless to say, I was not disappointed at all. The album is immensely beautiful and subsequently has not left my CD player.

From track to track the lyricism, musicianship and artistry is just utterly incredible. What a great introduction from a talented artist. My standouts are Two Lonely Hearts (On The Subway), Picture Show, Soul On Ice, Sweet Love, Diggin' You, the intro, Call Me, Dred Loc, Shoot'n Up & Gett'n High (that song is raw a* funk), If That's Your Boyfriend, Untitled, Outside Your Door (lover's anthem). LOL, did I list every song? Yep.

The funk encapsulated on the disc just makes you want to bust a soul clap, I mean damn, it's funky. I wish I would've purchased this album sooner. I would've had so much fun with it back in those budding high school years. Please don't make the same mistake I did, BUY THIS ALBUM NOW. I will be purchasing Peace Beyond Passion soon, so expect a review.

*List of things to do*: Get Bitter -- CHECK, Get Plantation Lullabies -- CHECK, Get Peace Beyond Passion --WILL DO

Me'shell please release another album. I'm waiting feverishly with my credit card when you do.

From out of basically nowhere Me'Shell Ndegeocello burst upon the music scene with what i think is an excellent album (hence the 5 star rating)Plantation Lullabies. Plantatiioon lullabies is an excellent album and one of the most original debuts i have heard in a long time. What makes Me'Shell different from other supposed R&B artists is the fact that she entirely doesn't sing, she rhymes them, almost like a spoken word artist. The songs on Plantation lullabies range from the love and desire, I want you song. Im digin you like and old school record, Dreadlocks, and the wonderfully melancholy outside your door. Me'shell also has a very political side which she shows on Plantation on songs like step into the projects and soul on ice. There's even a song about infidelity, from a very different prespective the funky I that was your boyfriend. But what most stands out on Plantation.. is Me'Shell soulful lyrics and funky grooves which make this album a must have for fans of good music.

Having only had this CD for a day I still feel as if I've
been hearing 'Plantation Lullubies' for years.Yes I've been
exposed to Me'Shell Ndegeocello's 'Peace Beyond Passion' album
for years but THIS one only just came to my attention.This is
a vibrant patchwork quilt of black music in America,from jazzy
funk to homemade hip-hop-deeply rooted in classic 70's rhythms,
notably on the synth-drenched instrumental title song but also in the bouncy "I'm Diggin' You (Like An Old Soul Record)".Not
only that but Me'Shell comes down stupid HARD on her bass-
attacking each song with a deeply ferocious musicality!Most
of the lyrics focus on the deep-voiced singer/rapper's
favorite subjects-drugs,sexuality and racism and she rails at
the status of each on every brilliant,scathing rap and lyric.
Most of the album flows together in one highly
harmonious groove,without the songs segueing.She also flaunts
her complete creative control over the music-playing many of
the hip-hop and funk licks herself rather then using a computer
and mixing songs with a voice with a couple instrumental.The
emmerging of a brilliant new talent that I hope will one day
be recognized in it's proper context!

What a great disc. Although I can't say that I agree with ALL that she runs down. But I definitely concur with the vast majority of the knowlege she expounds.

But make no mistake about it... this album is not for the status quo. Despite the great musicianship, and raw honesty only those with some sense of the experience of the artist will be able to appreciate either the lyrics or music without becoming unnerved.

Shootin up and Gettin High and Soul on Ice are the outstanding cuts in my estimation.

A definite purchase!

I'm about to replace my copy of "Plantation Lullabies" since my first one seems to have "walked off". This is one of my favorite CD's and a must-have for any serious collector. Me'shell's in-your-face poetry recalls the artistry of Gill Scott Heron and The Last Poets---accompanied by the nastiest bass this side of Marcus Miller and Stanley Clarke. I love her spoken word style, my only wish is that she had done a little more actual singing, because she has a great voice.

Long before the phrase "neo soul" was even thought of, a soulful 25 year old from Washington D.C. sparked the movement. A talented bass player, spoken word artist, and singer, Meshell Ndegeocello (meaning "free like a bird" in Swahili) possessed a distinctive voice that was richly husky yet feminine. After signing with Madonna's label Maverick, her debut Plantation Lullabies was released in the fall of 1993.

The spacey Prince inspired title track flows into I'm Diggin' You (Like an Old Soul Record), a funky trip down memory lane to the good ole days when "everything was cool". The unapologetic sass of If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night) is a kiss off to an angry girlfriend who confronts Meshell for creepin' with her man. The singer's unfazed and even taunts her with a chant of "Boyfriend, boyfriend/Yes, I had your boyfriend" that's downright nasty, but fun to sing along to at the same time. Who knew?

Tracks like Shoot'n Up and Gett'n High and Soul on Ice address political, social, and racial issues. The former angrily swipes at racism found in the media and everyday life while the latter gives the side eye to interracial relationships built on status rather than love ("Excuse me, does the white woman go better with the Brooks Brothers suit?"). The hip hop based, jazz inflected Step Into the Projects takes an honest view of inner city life and the spoken word set Untitled praises self-love.

Now back to the love songs. Meshell sings passionately of a lover on the free flowing sensuality of Dred Loc and the rubbery go-go strings of Call Me encourage him to "dial the 7 digits" and call her up if he's ever in need of her presence. Picture Show is a bouncy, colorful desire of a "hopeless romantic" to just hang out with a new love interest.

The best of the love songs is hands down the seductive Outside Your Door. Setting a relaxed, almost rainy night, mood, the half sung/half spoken piece implores a man to give Meshell a chance to get to know him better. Not in a stalkerish way, of course. "Tell me everything that you feel/Eveything that you want/I just want you to stay and talk to me/I'm just so lonely." It's beautiful and addictive. The reggae tinged Sweet Love wishes to reconnect with a former lover just one last time while the dreamy Two Lonely Hearts (On The Subway) closes the album on a high note.

It's a shame Meshell isn't given her well deserved props for not only paving the way for the neo soul genre, but of also being one of the most creative and forward thinking artists in the music world today. Hats off to her!

Listening to this album again, I had the same thought that I had in 1993 -Me'Shell was so far ahead of her time that although this debut created a buzz, she did not get the accolades that she so richly deserved at the time. She successfully married hip hop, r&b, jazz & funk and definitely busted open the door for her successor, Lauryn Hill whose MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL followed.

Both artists have beautiful singing voices and above average rap flows and both debut albums touch on their individual personal experiences - while Lauryn's detailed her ill-fated romance on more than a few tracks, Me'Shell's touched on social ills like racism, intra-racial strife & yes, love as well.

Although my favorite Me'Shell album is BITTER, this is a terrific debut that will keep listeners interest from the first to last track - I honestly can't pick one or two favorite tracks because they're all so good.

I hate to compare artists but for those who've never experienced Me'Shell, if you loved Lauryn Hill's debut, you will definitely enjoy PLANTATION LULLABIES.

I owned this CD almost 15 years ago and lost it. I've looked for it for all this time to no avail. When I found it on [...]. I was so happy and ordered it immediately. This is a cutting edge type CD that talks about social issues that some would consider rather taboo. I find that this is an excellent CD to work out to, because it starts off with a slow song to stretch and warm up to and then proceeds to get more upbeat. It really motivates me!! I particularly like "Digging You like an old Soul Record", and "Dred Locs",,The tracks are outstanding!!

I bought this recording when it was first released. I don't remember what prompted me to do so, but after the first listen, all I could say was "Damn!"
I still say "Damn!" when I think about it. In the realm of funk / neo-soul, nobody can touch Meshell. Nobody.
What really sets her apart and is probably the subtle undercurrent of what makes her so special is her sincerity. Most artists hide behind their music. Meshell reveals herself. One listen, and you know who and what she is. Her inner heart is thrown into raw sharp relief, and the intimacy one experiences listening to her is painful, and makes you fall in love with her at the same time.
The CDs that followed were all stylistly different; yet held true to the above description. Artists like her are rare, and a great treasure for humanity.

I was truly floored by this album. Although, I didn't actually get this album until '96. I think she's awesome. This album is just loaded with funk! She also confronts her listerners with issues of sexism,racism, drugs and poverty. Her lyrics are truly powerful. My favorite cut on this ablum is "Sweet Love". Her voice is so hypnotic and sensual, her slower cuts are made for love scenes indefinitely!