Customer Reviews

3 Years 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of--

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When this CD first came out I was 10 years old and I loved it. I bought the tape and listened to it all the time. I made a back-up copy of the tape and listened to both till they were destroyed.

A few weeks ago I stepped into the library and picked this CD up and I can't stop listening to it. I can now understand many of the lyrics that didn't quite catch when I was younger. I also think that I draw a lot of strength from this CD.

The music itself is innovative and wonderful. But the lyrics are truly powerful and seem to affirm the choices I have thus far made in my life. These songs discuss the importance of mothers and fathers raising their children, respecting all people (tribute to a homeless man "Mr. Wendal"), valuing nature (Children Play with Earth), the importance of marriage ("U"), and being honest and natural in a relationship ("Natural").

There are some aspects of the songs that I find more spiritual than religious although there are many reference to God. I am not particularly religious and don't think it comes off as being too preachy. There are also many calls to a revolution that seem almost silly but it is very tied to the poetics of original rap music (before it was swept away by gangsta rap).

Although I am not black, I am an immigrant and relate very much with their most famous song "Tennessee" which discusses a nostalgic reconnection to the violence of African American past in the United States. It's dealt with in a way that is mature, deep and intelligent.

A lot of intelligent beautiful rap music exits. This is a great place to start. Here are some other artists you may also enjoy: Spearhead, Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, The Roots, Ms. Dynamite, Public Enemy, Mos Def, Talib Kweli.

Take care of yourself.

peace-

This album is definitely unlike the majority of r&b/hip hop albums from 1992 (when it was first released) or the music of today. For starters, the lyrics are not misogynistic, violent or about drug use. They go deeper, and penetrate your thoughts.

The title refers to the duration of time it took to find a distributor and finally record this album. Though, it is unbelieveable, to me, that while a duo like Milli Vanelli can lyp synch their way to a GRAMMY, Marky Mark can drop his pants and become a model for Calvin Klein, posing in his tighty whities, and yet and yet an intelligent, thoughtful and beautiful group with affirmative content in their songs has to wait THREE years to even get a record deal! What a world!

Arrested Development mixes rap (by leader of the band, and lyricist, Speech), the stirring African drum rhythms and arrangements and the powerful vocals of the great Dionne Farris. It's like taking a musical journey, filling your ears with truthful and poetic messages about poverty and humanity ("Mr. Wendel"), anti-"gangsta" inspired messages about treating young Black women with respect ("Everyday People"), and taking an introspective look at the racism of the South and the ghosts that continue to haunt the descendants of slaves ("Tennessee").

This band was made up of a great group of storytellers, and it is truly a shame that they weren't able to continue together for more than a couple of years. We need you, Speech! We need to hear from the poets who take their gifts and use them to educate, not escalate.

This innovative album opens with Man's Final Frontier, a funky number with lots of scratching and samples. It is followed by the amazingly positive and life-affirming Mama's Always On Stage and People Everyday, black pride anthem and intelligent protest against violence.

Mr Wendall is another gem of a song, about homelessness and recognising the dignity in others. It also has a most compelling arrangement and gripping vocals. Arrested Development highlights personal and social problems without sounding preachy.

The jazzy Raining Revolution is a moving spiritual rap, and Fishin' 4 Religion is a critical look at organized religion. The energetic Give A Man A Fish deals with the music business whilst the bubbly uptempo U and the gentle, melodious Natural are about love and relationships.

Dawn Of The Dreads has lots of pop appeal with its catchy sung parts alternating with the rap; Tennessee has soulful female vocals, and the album concludes on a high note with the spiritual poem Washed Away. What a great album, so original in sound and uplifting in spirit! It encompasses a stunning variety of styles in a set of highly accomplished songs.

There are no words to describe how much i liked this CD. Very nice stuff. This CD was beautiful. THe music is a breath of fresh air compared to "hip-hop" on mainstream today. Nice stuff, nice stuff. Get it!

Thumbs up fo' sho'

It is a true pity that our people are so eager to line the pockets of filthmongering materialistic hip-crap, and leaving eloquent and sincere artists like A.D. out to dry.

This album was positivity pure and simple. The message was strength but also intelligence. We can be poets too. The pen is mightier than the sword.

How many other groups out there subscribe to the African concept of respecting the elders? But Speech and Co. brought Baba Oje with them for spiritual guidance, and he gave them plenty!

The music is soft and deep and beautiful. An anthem for our people, and a prayer of hope.

This 1992 debut was both a blessing and a curse to Speech and his talented band of hip hop/boho Gypsies. While the music here hasn't aged a day in the last decade, the message of positivity, communal living, self esteem, self reliance and spiritual oneness has been so copied and diluted by lesser artists that "3 Years, 5 Months...." doesn't sound as revolutionary as it once did. Secondly, this LP was so popular and the band became so ubiquitous that the listening public quickly tired of them and missed out on a superior and brilliant followup (1994's "Zingalamaduni") and that is a terrible injustice. The standard set by this album has also made it nearly impossible for Speech to maintain a successful solo career, to most fans he will always just be "that guy from Arrested Development". These tracks are superb to be sure, my personal faves being; "Mama's Always On Stage"(furious drumming by Rasa Don and scratching from Headliner),"Raining Revolution"(great, closely mic'ed vocals from Speech and a creepy, otherworldly theremin on the choruses) and the stunning closer "Washed Away", far and away the greatest track in the group's recorded history. Though they would top themselves on their sophomore LP, the moment and the vibe that was captured here is probably gone forever, remembering this time in music and their career is sure sweet.

A Proud, black, socio-political consciousess wrapped around a cat-footed, organically funky groove-thang, Arrested Development were an immediate critical and commercial success. Along with De La Soul, P.M. Dawn, and several other acts, Arrested Development represented a far more musical approach to hard-core rap--the ramifications of which continue to resonate across the pop charts. Solo star Dionne Farris begain her career here, too.

Led by Speech, the male-Female, muti-generational quintet-- Baba Oje, age 60, was the group's "Spritual Adviser"--came together in Atlanta. The Title of their 1992 debut (3 years, 5 Months and 2 days in the life of...) refers t the lenght of time it took 'em to get a record deal. Spurred by the slice-of-life-down-south "Tennessee" and anti hooiganism of "People Everyday (Metamorphosis Mix)" (which incorporates Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People" to help make a point, the album with samples stretching from Earth, Wind & Fire, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells to Minnie Riperton and Bob Dylan--- was a soild smash. And Hit Mr. Wendal is one of the best songs of the group.

"Childern Play with Earth" catlogs tangible ways of grasping our origins: climb trees, put your hands in dirt. "Raining Rovolution" finds a spritual and social renewal as origanic as the fall rain, an extended play on concepts of watery renewal: "the sperm of a brother into a sister" producing a "conscious baby for black resistance." The Narrator concludes soberly: "i feel the rain enhancesthe revolution."

The black church is criticized: "when they want change, the preacher says shout it/does shoutin' bring about change? I Doubt it." Country and folk idioms (white as well as black) are blended in to dramatize the message that the city isnt the best route to spirtual evloution and to "dawn of dreads" (anther number). It is exhilarating and moving to listen to this much thought and resolve expressed in one musical.

I respect AD for having the courage of their convictions and being unafraid to state their beliefs unequivocally in their music. It's obvious that they have great respect for humanity and for their fellow man (all mankind).

"Mr. Wendal" is a very touching commentary on homelessness, "Tennessee" talks about recapturing a more peaceful time and lifestyle and my favourite track "Washed Away" talks about the gradual and slow moral degradation that takes place almost imperceptably.

This album is a classic because the lyrics are great and would still be great if this were a country & western album. My point is that the intelligent and heartfelt lyrics here would be at home in any genre and what is surprising is that it falls under the rap genre which is probably the one you'd least associate these days with intelligence, sympathy and concern for humanity.

AD may not have lived very long as a group but this album sure will and is destined to remain a classic for many years to come.

Before Outkast, Goodie Mob, and many other voices, there was a group named Arrested Development (Speech, Headliner, Baba Oje, Rasa Don, Aerle Taree, & Motosho Eshe) well known for spreading their African culture and vibes, along with positive messages comming from Atlanta.

One thing I like about this group is their style was mostly laid back and enjoyable. Most of the contributions of this album were the instruments that were used throughout this album. Speech, who does most of the vocals, makes lyrics that were made to create a positive environment like marrage on the song as "U" and getting a better outlook on religion on "Fishin' 4 Religion". At the same time, they were more for giving back knowledge to others in songs "Give A Man A Fish" & "Mr. Wendal". Other tracks that have a strong positive vibe are "People Everyday", "Tennessee" and "Washed Away". They sample a lot of old artist's songs on this album (a good one would be Sylvester Stewart's "Everyday People" on the song "People Everyday"), I like it though.

Overall, this was a very innovative album that came out in 1992. Unfortnately this album got over played, that people got tired of this group (I was about 7 when this came out, and I still remember the "Mr. Wendal" song), so when their 1994 album Zinga...(I dear not try to spell that name) came out, people turned the other way. I believe both of their albums should be heard. Also they would appear on MTV's Unplugged in 1993. If you can, try to hear one of the albums by this group, even it's a greatest hits album (they're tons of them floating around), because I pretty sure you'll love it. I recommend this to people who want to hear some African cultural vibes and music.

Lyrics: A
Production: A+
Musical Vibes: A+
Overall: A+

Favorite Tracks:Mr. Wendal, People Everyday (reprise), Fishing 4 Religion, Give A Man A Fish, U, Tenessee

Honorable Mention Track: Natural

I first got hooked on this album because of the innovative instrumentals and catchy beats, but when you really listen to the lyrics, each song gives you something to think about.

This album brings dignity to rap. Women aren't referred to as "tricks" or "ho's," but as "black queens." There are social commentaries about single working mothers (Mama's Always on Stage), homelessness (Mr. Wendal), and internal strife within the African American community (Everyday People). My favorite song on this album is "Fishing for Religion," which not only has a great beat, but also makes a sharp criticism about how some churches encourage passiveness. Most striking throughout this album is the love and celebration for African American culture.

There are several mellower songs on the album. Personally, I prefer the upbeat numbers, but if you're looking for something a little funky and thought-provoking, give this a try.