Heave Media

Jill Scott continues to grow

Scott's lack of boundries make for a strong effort.

Jill Scott

The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3

Released on Nov 30, -0001

Listening to Jill Scott is like sweet melon in the summertime or apples in October, better at times, but always enjoyable. Ms. Scott seamlessly blends poetic eroticism with a street-smart confidence to explore the intimate recesses of love, longing and the inevitable lack thereof. She takes her vibrant brand of neo soul to new heights with The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3.

The album starts remarkably, with a snippet of French over electronic bells and Ms. Scott as ready to embrace spontaneity and invention, as she is reluctant to define herself musically or linguistically. “If it’s hip-hop / if it’s bebop / reggaeton off the metronome,? Ms. Scott is as ready to embrace new sounds, as she is reluctant to define herself musically and linguistically.

She goes on, listing, “Classical / country mood / rhythm and blues / gospel?, each one eliciting a brief burst of each genre. The strange pastiche of sounds melts into the title track, “The Real Thing?, a saucy, guitar-driven near-rock melody, given a touch of funk backed by trumpets and an airy chorus.

Jill demonstrates her artistic versatility on the first single off the album, “Hate On Me,? a sassy diatribe against Internet haters laid over break beats as catchy as her chorus. The track is a departure for Ms. Scott, whose skill for illuminating the beauty in vulnerability is often unappreciated on the charts. While, “Hate On Me? is recognizably crafted as a lead single, the track doesn’t suffer in its attempt for mass appeal.

The rest of the album returns to Ms. Scott’s bread and butter, straightforward storytelling reminiscent of earlier releases. Where she stays true to form in topical scope, she expands her musical repertoire by complementing the usual guitar-piano-bass combination with sound effects from outer space and shimmering chimes, yet unheard extensively.

This new sound is perfected on the seminal “Crown Royal?. Hot on the heels of the passion and desire resonating off the previous track, Ms. Scott’s metronomic rhymes evoke images of oil and candlelight, laid over a rising, whistling synth. The combination creates an aural aphrodisiac almost impossible to listen to without sweating a bit beneath the collar.

Perhaps the best part about drinking in Jill’s lovely ensemble is that her ability to arouse and intrigue is never overshadowed by inventive effort. She remains imagistic and exotic, equal parts temptress and romantic. Whether playfully cooing or irresistibly coaxing, Jill Scott delivers music for every season. Although with The Real Thing, she may very well be responsible for a number of showers around next July.

Posted by Diego Baez on Sep 27, 2007 @ 12:00 am