https://www.fatbeats.com/products/blu-exile-miles-3xlp

Anybody know if this is another compilation of outtakes? Or is it new stuff?
Here's the tracklisting:
1. Blue
2. When the Gods Meet
3. True & Livin' (I remember that this one, and a few others, were released on an EP last year)
4. Miles Davis
5. The Feeling
6. Music Is My Everything
7. Bright as Stars
8. Blue as I Can Be
9. You Ain't Never Been Blue
10. Miles Away
11. Troubled Water
12. Roots of Blue
13. African Dream
14. Requiem of Blue
15. The American Dream Pt.2
16. Dear Lord
17. To the Fall, But Not Forgotten
18. All the Blues
19. Spread Sunshine
20. The End
Seemingly no repeat tracks from the 'In the Beginning' comp, and most of the Fat Beats description for 'Miles' makes it sound like new material...but what throws me, is the re-use of this Exile quote, from press for the aforementioned comp:
“We planted the seeds of creativity and grew about 40 plants,” Exile says of the release. “We picked the ones that we thought were the best for an album, but that didn’t mean that the other flowers weren’t beautiful.”
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

...."True & Livin" was dope... Spread Sunshine is also from that "EP". ...Hoping this is as great as their other records.

https://open.spotify.com/track/32XCKQitXAmpjKTueSt5vy?si=Vn7FIm1OTLK-OFX2ZYt2qg

... what the last couple were. Which were great, for what they were. But I want a proper BtH followup, as I'm sure we all do.

.

I always preferred it to BtH, but didn't know that there were others who dug it this much.

I think Exile can do a little TOO much sometimes...

I don’t think I’d put the official up there with BTH,
but Blu’s is close IMO.

But either way it’s a slept on album.

Yeah, I think I can recognize that BtH is a more "complete" and possibly "better" album...but what I really like about GMMF, is that they really settle into a vibe throughout the album and explore the space within it, much like D'Angelo does on Voodoo. This is prolly gonna come off SUPER "backpack" or whatever, but I'm not a huge fan of the poppier songs on BtH (like "First Things First", "Show Me the Good Life"...I like "Dancing in the Rain" tho), so BtH is a little uneven to me.
Also, and don't get me wrong, Blu always raps -- but I prefer the personal, contemplative, poetic nature of the lyrics on GMMF to the b-boyish style he leans toward on BtH (I just think Blu is a pretty good "bars" rapper, but when he gets into his poetic bag, he's elite level).
I will say, though, that I think "No Greater Love" is B&E's best joint.
As far as the versions of GMMF, I don't think I have a preference...so I welcomed the better engineered Exile version, but I could definitely see it both ways.

>Yeah, I think I can recognize that BtH is a more "complete"
>and possibly "better" album...but what I really like about
>GMMF, is that they really settle into a vibe throughout the
>album and explore the space within it, much like D'Angelo does
>on Voodoo.

When I said the GMMF was perhaps more consistent. You put it far more eloquently and I agree. They found a groove and went with it.

But I think BtH has a certain consistency as well, hence why I like it so much - it's just that they ventured outside of one specific groove, vibe, pace a few times (Juice n' Dranks, Blu Collar Worker, etc.) and IMO it worked and made for a better album. Plus the highs were higher. Just my opinion tho. Both are great.


>This is prolly gonna come off SUPER "backpack" or
>whatever, but I'm not a huge fan of the poppier songs on BtH
>(like "First Things First", "Show Me the Good Life"...I like
>"Dancing in the Rain" tho), so BtH is a little uneven to me.
>Also, and don't get me wrong, Blu always raps -- but I prefer
>the personal, contemplative, poetic nature of the lyrics on
>GMMF to the b-boyish style he leans toward on BtH (I just
>think Blu is a pretty good "bars" rapper, but when he gets
>into his poetic bag, he's elite level).

This is where I don't agree. I think he got super personal on BtH as well, and that's a big part of what has always been appealing about him for me. So(ul) Amazin', Blu Collar Workers, Dancin' in the Rain, and especially In Remembrance of Me, he got real personal. And those songs are all great.

But maybe on balance he was more personal and less rappity rapping on GMMF than he was on BtH, and if that's what you meant then I can't refute you - gotta revisit GMMF.

bumped it at the gym, this morning. Still so good. 'Oh, Heaven' almost made me shed a tear...thinking back on everything that has happened this year and all the fam I've lost.

... (and it looks like I may be wrong) was that it was sort of a loose collection of songs they'd recorded half-assedly over the years after BtH, that they later decided to bring together as a full album. IIRC the sound quality certainly gives some credence to that backstory (that I admittedly may have wrong lol).

But I'd be happy to find out I'm wrong, cuz again I really liked that album. I don't think it has the highs of BtH but it may be more consistent overall. Weirdly, I should say, considering what I just said above about the making-of haha.

Blu version, which is the one he put on Bandcamp w no warning and had rough mixes of the songs. Then there’s essentially the Exile version with an additional song or two and proper mixing and is the version on streaming/wax, so I guess that’s the more “official” version. I actually find I prefer the Blu/bandcamp version. Many of those songs were indeed recorded several years before release but I don’t think that makes it any less of an album and BTH follow up.

So I was onto something even if "proper album" wasn't necessarily the way to phrase it.

Either way, I love it so I'll take it.

But I have a feeling this album will be even more proper lol. Can't wait.


>RE: That was a proper album. You may be referring to the fact there’s a
>Blu version, which is the one he put on Bandcamp w no warning
>and had rough mixes of the songs. Then there’s essentially
>the Exile version with an additional song or two and proper
>mixing and is the version on streaming/wax, so I guess
>that’s the more “official” version. I actually find I
>prefer the Blu/bandcamp version. Many of those songs were
>indeed recorded several years before release but I don’t
>think that makes it any less of an album and BTH follow up.

I think the fact that Blu dropped a rough version first, followed a year later by a better mixed album with a slightly tweaked tracklist, threw me off a bit. This reminded me to come back here and revisit this convo:

https://www.popmatters.com/162621-blu-exile-give-me-my-flowers-while-i-can-still-smell-them-2495821174.html

Like I've said, I really really liked and still like GMMF. But I far prefer BtH and after 3 listens I *definitely* prefer Miles as well. The latter two just *feel* like more complete, focused efforts to me, even ignoring the context of how GMMF was released. And the highs are higher on BtH and Miles as well.

GREAT to hear...First one is a classic, and "Flowers" was solid...

Diggin this first single, Blu is in rare form. Diggin the piano chops too

kinda mad i missed out on the blue one but this will do. under 3 weeks to go.

first single and video check the boxes
really looking forward to this

>RE: Didn't realize this is a double album

Halfway through, it's great so far! The album clocks in at 1 hr and 40 mins though, so it won't be easy to digest this in one go. The Bandcamp download also comes with 'Power to the People' as a bonus track, which appeared in last year's True & Livin' EP.

>The album clocks in at 1
>hr and 40 mins though

Nothing short about the length of album either, but my goodness this album is good.

right now my standout tracks are:

The American Dream (in particular this track has been on repeat)
The Feeling
Miles Away
All The Blues



The whole thing bangs tho. This will be on repeat for a while.


werd.

It’s def a feel good listening experience. They are a pair that just goes well together.

That said, I’m considering making an edit of this album that shaves off the end of some of the longer tracks.

.

Seemed like Blu was repeating himself a lot on a few of the tracks, just going thru like his career trajectory and shit like that. So they could've easily shaved a half hour off to make this a more manageable, reasonable length.

Outside of the length tho, no complaints at all - a beautiful album, as expected. These two just have such an incredible chemistry.

Did Blu forget to mention Nate Dogg in "To the Fall, But Not Forgotten" ?? That'd be weird. Gotta listen again.

Anyway early highlights are:

The Feeling (easily #1)
Bright as Stars (love the Acey feature)
You Ain't Never Been Blue
Miles Away
Troubled Water
American Dream
All the Blues

Blu's voice can get monotonous after a spell, but he is so smooth with it, it never bothers me (see the CL Smooth post).

Blu is becoming a bit prolific. Look at his catalog over the last 5 years. He sure has come along away. remember when he would drop recordings that were barely audible and we would clown the shit outta him.

Blu and Damu are still my shiet. But Exile always comes correct.


werd.

Agreed on the Blu/Damu project. His album with Oh No was great too. I still need to give The Blueprint another shot as well. I'm pretty certain the lofi vocals for this and a few other projects were intentional.

But man, he's definitely built up a diverse and interesting discography over the years.

Blue as I Can Be, The Feeling (I have to skip the poem thing at the end), Bright as Stars, Miles Away...my favorites after two full listens.

they've created a really moving trilogy with evolution and connecting points.

Below The Heavens
Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them
Miles (From an interlude called Life)

yes, i could trim it down to just my favs. i have a feeling my favs will change with more listens. i've only listened twice. first was on friday while doing some cleaning. i enjoyed it. some tracks really stood out to me. couldnt say much more than that.

just listened again with headphones and oof. so good. the second half is almost perfect. during roots of blue i was ready for it to be over and i was pretty happy. it just kept hitting and getting better after that though. troubled waters hook kinda bugged me. the beat change at the end??? man. i feel there are some tracks i am giving 5's too that i will probably bring down on repeat listens but the overall score probably wont change much. some 4.5s might go up to 5s.

Overall 4.8/5
Blue - 4
When the Gods Meet - 4.5
True & Livin' - 5
Miles Davis - 4.5
The Feeling - 5
Music is My Everything - 5
Bright as the Stars - 4.5
Blue as I can Be - 5
You Ain't Never Been Blue - 5
Miles Away - 5
Troubled Water - 4.5
Roots of Blue - 5
African Dream - 5
Requiem of Blue - 5
The American Dream - 5
Dear Lord - 5
To the Fall, But not Forgotten - 5
All the Blues - 5
Spread Sunshine - 4.5
The End - 5

I need to spend more time with it but I'm inclined to say it could have been cut by about a quarter. I'm totally cool with the longer tracks though -- in fact I really appreciate them.

I listened through the first half again last night and found myself thinking that this feels like a really personal record for Blu and simultaneously a really ambitious artistic statement -- there's a sense that he's really trying to get a larger vision of the world down before it escapes him. Some of the rapping is just relentless in its breathlessness and wordplay, again like he needs to capture something before it's gone. I think that feeling will keep me coming back to the album on and off for a long time.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

It's really that good IMO.

Very, very, very underappreciated.

I'm still absorbing...a few tracks Exile tries too hard, which has been his issue lately imo. He borders on corny these days. The Black Beans album was another example. A couple of these hooks, etc are a bit much.

That said, I agree it should be getting a lot more love.

For example on "Bright as Stars" the "don't have no fear" scratch seems suuuuuuper out of place. Just doesn't flow at all with everything else going on. And other than that that's one of my favorite songs on the whole album !

And yea Blu is insane on the mic. Always has been. I wish I had the ability to keep up with everything he puts out cuz I love hearing him spit.


>Very, very, very underappreciated.
>
>I'm still absorbing...a few tracks Exile tries too hard, which
>has been his issue lately imo. He borders on corny these
>days. The Black Beans album was another example. A couple of
>these hooks, etc are a bit much.
>
>That said, I agree it should be getting a lot more love.

but wasn’t sure how to phrase it...I mean, who am I to tell freakin Exile how to produce. It just felt like some spots, he was cramming a lot of sounds/vocal samples into small spaces.

i don't hate the beats on here, but some are a little... busy.

i've noticed that exile has a slight tendency to overproduce (and some of the choruses are a little overcooked), which is unfortunate.

the great thing about the BTH stuff was its simplicity. just my take.

bright as stars, miles away, requiem of blue

>i don't hate the beats on here, but some are a little...
>busy.
>
>i've noticed that exile has a slight tendency to overproduce
>(and some of the choruses are a little overcooked), which is
>unfortunate.
>
>the great thing about the BTH stuff was its simplicity. just
>my take.

why I listen to Give Me My Flowers more than any B&E collab. It just feels so uncluttered...and sometimes, I need that.

especially on the second half.

Exile turned the corny dial all the way up. A few of these hooks sound like they came straight from a kids movie or a bad musical or something.

I wonder why he is trying so hard lately. Someone needs to tell him it aint hitting.

.

Went to play my boy some Blu. instrumental shit because he loves lo-fi and saw this album... had no clue what it was... Spending the weekend with this...

I really thought Blu. was gone (mentally) a few years back... and I know he’s made albums since then, but this one is special...

check the one with damu... blu was cooking on there too.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1K9AzHiiydbY148Zu9DiQj?si=-ZWaF0zFQwykMt5VbFIiiQ

Absolute classic

the feeling

that one stays stuck in my head lol. google play seems to play it often on shuffle too. i think im getting the vinyl in today so ill be playing it soon.

oooooo

I need a video for this.

werd.

Bright as Stars might be my fav track at the moment. Good to hear Acey drop a verse. Kinda want an LP by him produced by Exile now.

>Bright as Stars might be my fav track at the moment. Good to
>hear Acey drop a verse. Kinda want an LP by him produced by
>Exile now.

Yeah, that Acey feature is definitely a highlight for me. I could easily hear him over a whole record of Exile.

Some of the other features are really good, too, like Choosey's...

And is that Exile rapping on "You Ain't Never Been Blue"? I really like those verses and the give and take with Blu at the end.



-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Finally got a chance to listen to it

I love everything about it.
Straight up.

I am not mad at the length at all.
Some movies, roller coaster rides, nights out, books, albums.. I don't want them to end. This is one of those.

Absolutely gorgeous piece of work.

IMO these two keep getting better and better as a duo. Their chemistry is on another level, and I think it's dope that it's so many years between each of their projects but they still manage to come together when the time is right and not miss a beat.

im a bit mixed on it. i think its great but maybe not a 5/5. i think the first 3 or 4 tracks could be removed and maybe 1 or 2 others. wouldnt be surprised if other people said those were their favorites though lol

no track is less than a 4/5. after those first 3 tracks or so its pretty much perfect. im curious to see if those first tracks grow on me.

its hovering between really good to great for me.

so impactful

it has so many songs that just make me feel a combination of pain, despair, frustration and hope.

might be just a couple of seconds of the beat, an instrument, a singer, some lines but they all hit the same nerve.

love it.

i think this will go down as my favorite 2020 album, the one i will look back on with fondness.