The countdown to "New Amerykah Part One" continues. Last night, the spiritual and provocative Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) Gallery in Chelsea played host to Ms. Badu's listening party. Here's an attempt at a track-by-track breakdown of what I heard:

"Amerykahn Promise" - lots of sirens on some 'martial law is in effect, get your kids inside' kind of vibe. Honestly, I only noticed the proper ‘listening’ had begun when I heard the familiar beat and lyrics of the next track.

"The Healer" - most have probably heard by now; a straightforward, music is everything, really clever lyrics, full of attitude.

"Me" - In interviews, Ms. Badu speaks about her newfound thickness, that lyric is on this track; classic love thyself and all its glory, imperfections, etc. It doesn’t jump off the CD for me, but she kills it live, so maybe it’s a grower.

"My People" - wasn't sure which song this was at first, but it had some dope chanting on it. Was the first point in the listen my ears wandered a bit.

"Soldier" - reportedly the next single off of the album; powerful, thumping bass; packs a lot of meaning into simple phrases. Badu speaks a lot of late about feeling "more relevant" this time out. I felt that most on this track. There's some major urgency flowing through this. One of the hyper tracks that feels like a fist in the air sing-along by the end.

"The Cell" - What I could hear of the lyrics felt like a cousin to "Danger." The chorus is something about "code white stands for trouble", "shots from po-po" and "nickel bags," so I feel there's a cautionary tale in there. At the end, the beat drops out of the above-mentioned chorus and it was the first time the loud room of 'listeners' became completely quiet. Crazy energy with a touch of funk on it - a grower with fav potential.

"Twinkle" - What I actually remember hearing was something more akin to an interlude. Could've been in the tradition of the other albums with the tracks bleeding together. If so, the dark, airy sing/scream background vocals I heard belong to the end of "The Cell" or maybe it's the opening to "Twinkle."

"?" - Again, this sounded like an interlude - spoken male voices over an intergalactic-type beat a la "2001: A Space Odyssey." Could have been the end of "Twinkle" or the opening to "Master Teacher" and since there are only 10 tracks on the album, something in here is combined with the track immediately preceding or following it.
"Master Teacher" - Georgia Anne Muldrow guests on this one; starts off slow with not too much going on, but the beat changes for the bottom half; becomes a jazzier version of the same song with the keyboard leading the way. This would be the preferable interpretation (gotta love a built-in remix).

"That Hump" - starts off with the bass line mimicking the sound of stomping feet, like soldiers marching off. Then becomes kind of a sweet ballad with a little falsetto action toward the end kicking it up a notch.

"Telephone" - last track of the album inspired by a story Dilla's mother told Badu. Evidently during his final days, Dilla would float in and out of coherence, having very real conversations with people no one else could see. One of these people, as Dilla told his mother, was ODB. Dirty was telling Dilla that when he gets to the other side not to get on the red bus, though it was inviting. The white bus would be the one to pick him up. Great, beautiful song. Lyric: "Telephone! It's Old Dirty. He wants to give you directions home." Only Badu could make ODB sound like a visionary guide through the afterlife. When people say funerals are celebrations of an individual's life (as they fight back tears and look anything but celebratory), this song makes you believe it. The track closes with the uplifting words "Celebrate tonight" repeated.

"Honey" - is the hidden track on "Telephone." As Badu has mentioned elsewhere, "Honey" was not on New Amerykah Part One at all, but is a song from Part Two: Return of the Ankh. At Sylvia Rhone's suggestion, it was made the first single for this album. She ended up using it to bridge between the two concept albums.

In other news, the tentative release for the Edith Funker project, Lowdown Loretta Brown, is November 2008. Fan favorite "Annie" (the song included in the video for "Honey" during the "Hey Ya" nod about the chick missing a crucial undergarment) will be on this album. Also, the release of New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh will be marked with a single released on the 26th of each month from March until December. Why buy Part Two if you can collect the singles throughout the year? Because the full album will be released in conjunction with the debut issue of Badu's Freaq magazine, which will include full liner notes, lyrics and a feature on New Amerykah. It's a lifestyle mag that will cover education, fashion, sexuality, spirituality and of course, music.

-Candace L.

For more from Candace L., hit up The Reviews http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews

>"Telephone" - last track of the album inspired by a story
>Dilla's mother told Badu. Evidently during his final days,
>Dilla would float in and out of coherence, having very real
>conversations with people no one else could see. One of these
>people, as Dilla told his mother, was ODB. Dirty was telling
>Dilla that when he gets to the other side not to get on the
>red bus, though it was inviting. The white bus would be the
>one to pick him up. Great, beautiful song. Lyric: "Telephone!
>It's Old Dirty. He wants to give you directions home." Only
>Badu could make ODB sound like a visionary guide through the
>afterlife. When people say funerals are celebrations of an
>individual's life (as they fight back tears and look anything
>but celebratory), this song makes you believe it. The track
>closes with the uplifting words "Celebrate tonight" repeated.
^^^^^^^^^^My brain just exploded thinking about this^^^^^^^

I had an opportunity to buy this CD bootleg for $3.00 and declined, because I don’t do the bootleg thing... had I paid $3.00 for this album I would STILL be PISSED! and I paid full price so I am off the Richter scale PISSED!

This Latest Erykah Badu NEW AMERYKAH pt. 1 an artist self indulgent piece of chanting, meditation SHIT!

I love me some Erykah, but when an artist does something so far out the box, I feel RIPPED OFF... because I buy expecting one thing and to get some mess like this album...

I respect artistic expression... but DAME! If I wanted a psychedelic, eclectic funk meditation album I would have purchased that... When I buy an Erykah Badu album at the very lest I expect SOME DAME DRUMS (BASS) some simulation of R&B Soul...

I am just as done with Erykah Badu at this point... The next time I buy one of her albums at a real store, it will be listened to in advance... She no longer get the privilege of my money based on talent... she has to prove herself to me and only after I break even and by her next offering no matter how good bootleg...

Erykah Badu should be ashamed of herself to have ripped her buying public off like this!

I bought the CD based on it being Erykah Badu and I got someone else. Cause there was no rhythm to the songs to me and her talented voice was never utilized. And SA-RA as a production group was very disappointing. Them nuckas is spacey.....

But I'll give Badu another shot, cause I love all of her other stuff and her live show is superb. I'll have to listen to it first though.

I'm sure I NEVER used the word hate...

But if I did use the word hate; it would be appropriate...

Erykah shows us NONE of her range... yes, her words are real, but I did not by a lecture or a spoken word album...

I brought the album of someone I thought was a serious Songstress...

I am so disappointed... I like #5 & 9 that is IT!

Same way it took some time.

oh and My People----like Mos Def's?

cuz i've got to have it!

...and i thought she was saying, "Telephone. It's so dirty."

Thanks for your analysis on each song...just can't wait to hear the whole thing...

.

i thought she said 'telephone its so dirty.....' from that interview it sounds like WWU all over again..... i love how her tracks bleed into each other tho...

>i thought she said 'telephone its so dirty.....' from that
>interview it sounds like WWU all over again..... i love how
>her tracks bleed into each other tho...

me too...like how "danger" bled into "think twice"

>>i thought she said 'telephone its so dirty.....' from
>that
>>interview it sounds like WWU all over again..... i love how
>>her tracks bleed into each other tho...
>
>me too...like how "danger" bled into "think twice"

And I thought it was gonna be a naughty song, but a great track,nonetheless.

silk.
later


Now playing:
Dionne Farris-For Truth If Not Love/Sam Sparro-Sam Sparro/Sheila E.-Sheila E./Rene & Angela-Rene & Angela/Alicia Myers - Alicia Again/Aurra-A Little Love/Sugarfoot-Sugar Kiss/Tawatha-Welcome To My Dream/Tonex-Bapogostic/Undisputed Truth-Cosmi

dope breakdown.

as an FYI, "Soldier" is the Kariem Riggins produced joint on the album.


there are two Madlib joints.




i'm LOVING this album so far.




side note: I'm shocked you didn't mention all the dope artwork! I heard that was all displayed at the listening session last night!

For those that cop the album, there is some truly dope artwork for each track (in the booklet).

has the album leaked yet??

for sale today.

product shipped later than normal for this release

Just trying to keep it short. All the artwork, Erykah's and the gallery's, was amazing. On CoSM's work, it's like a more sanitary, but cosmic version of the Bodies exhibit at the Seaport. All these paintings of man from skeletal form slowly adding tendons, flesh, babies in the womb, some crazy stuff. If anybody ever visits, there's a really sick one in the corner of the back room with a woman covered with eyes all over her body (I guess a Mother Earth representation?) and on her left is a virginal White woman breastfeeding and on the right is a freaky voodoo Black mama getting it on with some dude nearly in paralysis. Yeah, listen to "The Healer" in that room. As for Erykah's stuff, Emek must be one exhaustingly creative dude, more of what you've already seen with scribbles and notes all over the different lyric pages. Can't wait for next week.

i've been to like every record shop in town with no success :(

No clue, I've only seen them around at various events. If I hear/see anything, I'll drop a line.

>I'll wait until next week.

Yeah, cuz I'll have my own damned listening party!
LOL
be.fearless.choose.love

got an A-

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20179152,00.html

>got an A-

this is good cuz the critics are normally scratching their heads over her material, lol

"... She also freely ... laments that at 37, ''my ass and legs have gotten thick.''"

LAMENTS? Comedy.

'twinkle' and 'me' is my shit...
I love her evolution with this album
BUT
THE HEALER - in terms that titled track
is really
Supa Nova Salom.
EB know dat.

Its a completely great transition of music as an album.
Quite transcendental.
But EB been doing that well.
respect.

_____________________________________________

"What people think of me is none of my business." ~O. Winfrey

http://myspace.com/afeni

what makes you say that?

oh never mind , dont answer .
i know who you are .



peace.

Erykah,
any info on where we can get USB's on tuesday?

this album is bananas!

this kinda reminds me of something prince woulda done back in the day, but it's hard as ish all the way thru.

thanks for holdin it down e!... i needed this in my life

this coulda been a real fresh dialog.
I am dismissed..."and so it goes."

tho you coulda been specific on what was misunderstood bout my statement.
like I said..it all makes a little more sense to me.
I learned more about individual processes and observers and
that dialog in a whole.

(b)FLY ALBUM tho.
shine.

i aint beffin with you
I just want you to shine.
carry on strangely.
_____________________________________________

"What people think of me is none of my business." ~O. Winfrey

http://myspace.com/afeni

SO LOG IN MORE OFTEN...



-100% Intelligent Black Child.

EH?

:: Fajada 02/25/08 ::

look at love
how it tangles
with the one fallen in love

look at spirit
how it fuses with earth
giving it new life

why think separately
of this life and the next
when one is born from the last

*waits for 12:00* when store local indie opens.

Damn jus think how we gon act when DAngelo comes out.

that joint is meeeeaaaaaan

my gawd...

thankyou.

& the beat changes throughout the album are GREAT..sure its gonna get better with every single listen too

from what i read it reminds me
of when my aunt was dying and she was talking to her parents
my great grandparents
no one was in the room
but me and her
it was the most special moment in my life

but its sad as well
see THIS is why i will
ALWAYS love and support badu
every album
something it there is like
she knew


creativity is from God
The Creator
Thank you badu for being His vessel
through that song i will never forget
that moment
my blessing

>from what i read it reminds me
>of when my aunt was dying and she was talking to her parents
>my great grandparents
>no one was in the room
>but me and her
>it was the most special moment in my life
>
>but its sad as well
>see THIS is why i will
>ALWAYS love and support badu
>every album
>something it there is like
>she knew
>
>
>creativity is from God
>The Creator
>Thank you badu for being His vessel
>through that song i will never forget
>that moment
>my blessing
>


-When ni66az turn into gods, walls come tumblin'

-They don't know their language, they don't know THEY'RE god. They take what they're given even when it feels odd.

Yeah man, seems alot of these stories going around. When my grandfather passed he was speaking to alot of my family's ancestors from a tribe in Mozambique my family is descendants of.

PEACE

im loving this song man

The change up in beats of both "master teacher" AND "that hump" are soooo lovely, I almost wish Erykah would extend both of the change ups to full length songs.

I LOVE "soldier", it has such a cool groove to it, very laid back. Also summertimeish.

Currently, "that hump" is my favorite, it's very layered and i love the harmonies.

"Telephone" is very pretty but very sad. Hard to listen to.

The bass in "the healer" is fierce.

Oh and the guitar riff that comes halfway into "Me" is really makes the song pop.

Oh yeah, and I can't say enough about the slide back into the main melody after the break in "that hump", it's so gangsta...only way to describe it...gangsta.

Erykah is political, personal, funny, sad, funky, soulful, experimental.

Many thanks for your review. The music has a nice effect. On listening the songs the first two to three times I didnt liked them. But then came the big bang came and I got it, now I love them and can not stop listening to the tracks.

Does anyone know if the extra tracks on the UK (release 03.03.) and Japan (release 03.05) realeses are confirmed ?

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Amerykah-Part-One-World/dp/B0013KJATS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1203774430&sr=8-1

Japan: http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2666834

Does anyone know if and when and where the USB-Stick will come out ?

I like the album...I don't love it as much as the other. Mama's Gun is her best work by far. My only fear is that general population won't get it and she will only sell gold like Worldwide Underground. Honey and Solider are really the only 2 releasable song from the record. The rest is more experimental and won't work on the radio

and "that hump" on v103.

well the radio needs to start bangin' shit like this ASAP ... The Healer is my jawn. Shouts to Madlib and Ms. Badu for that joint ...

over what's played on the radio.

I listen to all kinds of music, visit all kinds of messageboards, and these "commercial" artists have street teams and fans that actually call stations DAILY to get stuff played. I can copy and paste lists of radio stations all around the country.

If we really wanted to, we could have this whole album played on the radio. It's enough members on OKP to change the direction of radio...only if we really wanted to.

peace & blessings,

x.

=========================================
** i move away from the mic to breathe in

>over what's played on the radio.
>
>I listen to all kinds of music, visit all kinds of
>messageboards, and these "commercial" artists have street
>teams and fans that actually call stations DAILY to get stuff
>played. I can copy and paste lists of radio stations all
>around the country.
>
>If we really wanted to, we could have this whole album played
>on the radio. It's enough members on OKP to change the
>direction of radio...only if we really wanted to.


-When ni66az turn into gods, walls come tumblin'

-They don't know their language, they don't know THEY'RE god. They take what they're given even when it feels odd.

Indeed, heads want change need to demand it. Where there is a demand there will be a supply because Amerykah is a opportunist capitalistic junkie

PEACE

It may sound silly, but until I hear the rest of the album, this song is my new "Otherside".
Can't wait to cop this.

like Baduizm. I can't give it Mama's Gun status yet though, I stress yet... that album is perfection.

That album is in my top 5 of albums I would take if I was going to be stuck on a deserted island for an extended period of time. I like M.G. I like this one. Neither one can touch Baduizm though. That album is one of the Greatest Albums of all time, imo.

Considering that on sites such as Amazon (which had clips) and All Music had reviews and comments while this site was muzzled till today, here is my review:

I was seeing download links for about a week now, but i resisted, i need the real deal. I have class till 2:30 today, but best believe I'm takin my ass to the store as soon as I get outta here

way. dilla and odb gotta be smiling off of that one.

haven't checked the liners yet. the drums w/ the snare off is a very nice touch, too.

beautiful, beautiful tribute.

the rest of the album is dope. but i would buy it for this, alone.

alright. i'ma take it off repeat now. in a minute.


peace & blessings,

x.

=========================================
** i move away from the mic to breathe in

Anyone have an idea of the track break downs of who produced each track.
I heard Madlib has like 8 joints...

I got the iTunes version and it didnt have a digital booklet.

so i gets nothin!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW2vrPpmJOA

you crazy!
HA!

Telephone got me bad,love her album

I also bought the album off iTunes, so I didn't have any liner notes. Honestly, I'm still digesting the album, so I couldn't exactly make out what Telephone was about, even though taken on it's own musically that is one of the sexiest beats in recent memory. Hearing the Dilla story makes it tragic, beautiful, classic...

and you say "this sounds like a so and so beat" and then you look at the notes and it's just who you thought it was. lol That's how it was when I heard The Cell. The way the drums and chords come in just get it done.

Master Teacher is my shyt too, it sort of reminded me of something off of the Platinum Pied Pipers joint.

The whole joint just cranks! I am looking forward to the rest of the albums.

cause when i heard master teacher, i was like "...somebody is tryna sound like Bilal" then i look in the notes and see my dude! that shit got me hyped!

thats it.

for now.

saw the video the other day - good looks

the greatest piece of musical artistry ever recorded by a woman, and likely the most powerful record of this century thus so far.
I decided that today.
and...
that is clearly all that needs to be said.

Thank you ebadu, your work shows what happens when talented healers reject fear. :)

You know that feeling you get when your foot is on the brake, and the car is still sliding into the intersection? That bolt of nervous energy, the claustrophobic, bullet-time prayer, the "how the eff did I get HERE, this is IT" feeling? To borrow a phrase from a friend describing hearing Portuguese Love for the first time, when I REALLY heard That Hump, time. stopped. Anyone who has ever struggled with an addiction can feel her tears on this one. And to put Telephone (which I spent 3 days on alone) right after this one? There's more raw emotion between those two songs than I've ever heard on ANY album. This woman is surreal.

"a bitch could use a little more" gets me...the emotion in this song is off the charts...and the beats and beat changes are splendiferous...this is my #2 song now

yeah...it's my #1 right now..and the song change...is DOPE..."...i ain't neva done dope...only smoked a joint or twooooo.."

the range of voices she uses, it's like a one woman vocal symphony... astounding track - and album! for me it's between the healer, hump and telephone.... this album is one i'll be playing for a looooong time. thank u erykah

<a href="http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/pkfinest/?action=view¤t=moto_0017.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/pkfinest/moto_0017.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>




Picture worth a thousand words

I haven't heard the album yet, and I haven't seen any information about it. Analoguegirl got to offer the album in the LP format. I can be picky and say "as long as the sequencing on the vinyl is not the same as the CD, as MAMA'S GUN was", but she'll come out of nowhere and go "Book, WTF?

But I'll buy it regardless, just lead the way.




ME: http://www.myspace.com/crutmusic
WRITE: http://therunoffgroove.blogspot.com
HEAR: http://booksmusic.podomatic.com/

GIVE: http://www.hawaiifoodbank.org
DO: http://green-base.blogspot.com/

ABB: http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/index.php?vst=45730

Just not out yet.

http://therunoffgroove.blogspot.com/2008/03/run-off-groove-194.html


===FEAR NOT, THE COUNTDOWN IS IN EFFECT===

ME: http://www.myspace.com/crutmusic
WRITE: http://therunoffgroove.blogspot.com
HEAR: http://booksmusic.podomatic.com/

ABB: http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/index.php?vst=45730

not this album. Dah well.


<--- Nuff said.

www.myspace.com/wugambina

Really talkin about; what do she mean in the Chorus??
I need a REAL/DETAIL breakdown

>Really talkin about; what do she mean in the Chorus??
>I need a REAL/DETAIL breakdown


my first time quoting a post, so i hope this goes down right, but in the most simplistic of explanations, she just saying our lack of knowledge of orgin is the cause of our own limitation..... and the dialogue at the end confirms that.......

the last part of the chorus specifically struck me as being related to mysticism of religion........

i dont wanna get too deep, cause i comprehended every theme touched on this album without confusion, but to one with a little lesser understanding, the content can be "obscure" or "intricate" to understand.....

but honestly the reason i cant get into it right now is because time wont allow....... hopefully someone can add-on for you!

Peace!

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=3&topic_id=168973&mesg_id=168973&page=


-When ni66az turn into gods, walls come tumblin'

-They don't know their language, they don't know THEY'RE god. They take what they're given even when it feels odd.

remarkable album, can't wait for the follow-up!

i respect erykah for not compromising her music and this album is nice... the album artwork is crazy!!!

I had 2 listen 2 it 2-3 times 2 figure out what the h*9L was goin' on. It's like...Soul Psychodelica. I get it now. & I LOVE IT.

I absolutley love this album.... From start to finish.....

Telephone is an amazing song, I love the feel and sound - Just amazing!

why isn't it hip hop?

ive come to appreciate the chanting and repetetiveness (sp?) of it...i play it when i get off work and am loosening up...it's just so chill and simple...erykah knows what she's doing :)

This album is pure genius.

>In other news, the tentative release for the Edith Funker
>project, Lowdown Loretta Brown, is November 2008.

>>In other news, the tentative release for the Edith Funker
>>project, Lowdown Loretta Brown, is November 2008.

fam where u hear that? it will be a saver of this awful month if true