Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great return with some adventurous, contemporary soundscapes, February 9, 2010
Gil Scott-Heron was one of the music scene's sharpest observers of black America before falling victim to its traps - drug addiction, and a spell in prison.
He has been gone for some time, spending portions of the last decade in and out of prison and rehab. Now free, the often-dubbed 'black Dylan' has released his first album in 13 years and it is wonderful.
Commonly cited as the founding father of rap, he has been gone for some time, spending portions of the last decade in and out of prison and rehab but on the sleevenotes of his new album he urges us to stop and listen without distraction.
"I'm New Here" is a collaboration with XL Records' boss, Richard Russell and it is delivered in a voice as weathered and authoritative as Johnny Cash.
"If you've got to pay for things that you've done wrong, I've got a big bill coming", croaks the 60-year-old godfather of rap. You can taste both regret and resilience in this slow-cooking stew of hip-hop, blues, soul and spoken word.
Over moving strings and piano, the veteran poet and musician reflects lovingly on the grandma who brought him up and the state of his country, adopting a half-sung, half-recited poetic style.
On "Me and The Devil", with Damon Albarn on keyboards and beats like clanking jail bars, he sings the agonised blues over an ominous trip-hop backdrop, whilst on "New York Is Killing Me" the protagonist's woes unfurl over a sparse, percussive backing, mixing overdriven, sub-woofer-troubling bass drums with Delta-blues classicism and gospel handclaps.
He takes a more cautiously affirmative view on the hangdog title track, a cover of a Smog song, lifted from 2005's "A River Ain't Too Much To Love", and in some brief meditations on his background, while the ragged, heart-rending diamond-in-the-rough, stately ache of "I'll Take Care of You" harks back to his 1970s soul funk heritage.
Richard Russell's production is excellent and Scott-Heron is simply fantastic.
Best of Gil Scott-Heron
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A battle for your soul and mine, February 17, 2010
The past decade has been tragically ironic for the iconic Gil Scott-Heron. The man has been the voice of a revolution whose impact reached well beyond the scope of his music; striving to rescue people from the pitfalls of society. The idea that the same man would be severing multiple prison sentences, battling drug addiction and facing a rumored HIV diagnosis in his later years is beyond belief... few have fallen from such heights. Yet, often the most masterful works result from the worst tribulations. Immersed in his personal demons "I'm New Here" follows this mold.
Followers of Scott-Heron's career might be thrown off by this record. No, he hasn't lost his mastery of words. Gil is as poignant as ever. His spoken word cuts are comparable to his earliest works and he knows exactly how to use his ailing voice to favor. It's musically and topically where this album is a grand departure from anything he's released. Scott-Heron sounds like he's literally been through hell. He touches on his demise, the fate of his soul, and living with the pain left by the sins he's committed. Tracks like the "New York Is Killing Me" are a kin to "Home is Where the Hatred Is", only further exemplified by the fact that he's no longer playing a role: he's lived it. The production of Richard Russel meets this tone head on by providing a sinister soundscape which is a perfect counterpart to the lyrics. It is more inline with the recent works of Portishead, Burial and Massive Attack than what one would naturally expect from the soul legend. Combining the man's ragged voice and the despair in his words with the dark production is a simply haunting experience.
I would honestly NOT recommend this album for people who are ONLY looking for a return to Gil's work with Brian Jackson. Even the tracks that break the bleak mold, borrow more from Hip-Hop than neo-soul. If the idea of combining Small Talk at 125th and Lenox with the atmosphere of American IV: The Man Comes Around over a Live with Me backdrop sparks your curiosity then I would highly recommend the record as the experience will be gorgeous and heartbreaking.
While Gil Scott-Heron still commands a response from his audience, he urges in a way that he never has before: that of a tortured soul, begging others not to follow his path.
(8.5/10)
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 1/2 stars-- Uncompromising and intense-- in short, everything you wanted from Gil Scott-Heron, February 9, 2010
It's been quite some time now since Gil Scott-Heron's last record (Spirits) came out, long enough to make me question, between the inactivity of recording and his recent legal problems, whether or not Scott-Heron, whose political activist voice we so desperately missed during the Bush presidency, would ever return. Featuring a modern vibe from producer Richard Russell, Scott-Heron mixes blues covers, originals and spoken word pieces to great effect-- passionate to the point of painful, disarming in its honesty and at times fierce. In fact, if there was a criticism to make, it's that the record is brief (around 30 minutes). But brief as it may be, "I'm New Here" is a powerful record, and certainly one we've been waiting for.
The album has that feel of exorcism to it, whether it's the demons of stereotype ("On Coming From a Broken Home") or those more recent (the title track). Sparse instrumentation in a highly modern context-- more modern than you think an elder statesman of music like Scott-Heron could pull off, provide a backdrop for his world weary voice, having lost some of its smooth delivery but still capable of summoning extraordinary depth of emotion. I never thought I'd hear anyone match the haunted Robert Johnson, but Scott-Heron takes on the blues great on "Me and the Devil" and matches him. Likewise, he expresses a pragmatic tenderness on "I'll Take Care of You" and an odd regretfulness on "Running".
Something stops me from thinking of this like Scott-Heron's masterpieces of old-- maybe its the lack of political commentary, maybe it's the lack of explosive joy that his previous records all seemed to have-- there's no "Red, Black & Green" or "Your Daddy Loves You" or "B-Movie" on this one. But look, it's hard to speak of what could have been on an album I never expected to see. It's a great record on its own merits. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but not great!
As an avid Gil Scott-Heron fan I was happy to know that this great artist was releasing a new album.
Published 5 days ago by Music Lover 42, MAe
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5.0 out of 5 stars
The return of a long lost friend!
I saw Gil back in the 70's and all I can say is wow. I also had the opportunity to meet him and cherish the memory. Somehow I have managed to collect ALL his releases on CD.
Published 6 days ago by Jay L. Jylkka
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Poet Returns
Gil is Back! This is work of someone who has seen Mister Johnson's "Hellhounds" and lived to tell about it.
Published 17 days ago by Clarence E. Jones III
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5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm also new here...
Gil Scott-Heron's new CD "I'm new here" is apparently his first in 16 years. Unlike most here, I'm not too familiar with his earlier stuff, though I know and love "Angel dust" and...
Published 18 days ago by Nse Ette
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic return
Honestly, I never thought Gil Scott-Heron would ever return to recording. This new album, although short, is absolutely fantastic.
Published 21 days ago by T. Bekken
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely stunning...a must
Our heroes and favorites -- no matter how revered in our personal pantheons -- can be hard to love as they age and get to AARP age.
Published 28 days ago by Steven P. Tapia
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Not quite sure, it needs a few more listens
I bought this without even listening to any previews. I figured it was Gil, so no worries. I was shocked upon hearing his voice.
Published 28 days ago by rhonda
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