Album Review: Jill Scott - Beautifully Human: Words And Sounds Vol. 2 (Epic/Sony)

Writer: Ike Ikwuemesi

It’s hard to imagine what contemporary soul music was like prior to Jill Scott and her ilk. D’Angelo, Erykah Badu and Maxwell were as refreshing as fresh can get when one by one they showed up towards the turn of the last century. Then, cue Scott, who solidified and consummated a “new era”, that critics and pundits alike termed as “neo soul”. This basically meant tunes that sounded more organic than pornographic; more snooty than booty; more nappy than snappy; more... well you get the idea.

After a prolonged hiatus, the ‘Sister of Substance’ breezes back into the limelight with her sophomore effort Beautifully Human: Words And Sounds Vol. 2. Peep the album cover, a cutesy pre teen self portrait; the confiding picture, at an age of innocence, vulnerability, and candour instinctively renews the soothing intimacy and themes that Scott offers to listeners.

...Vol. 2 ostensibly takes off from where Who is Jill Scott? Word And Sounds, Vol. 1 left. This feeling is immediately imparted from hearing the first song which appeared as a fade out from a track on Scott’s debut album (Lyzel in E flat, as I recall). With such a high standard to eclipse, Beautifully Human has its work cut out from the bat. No one but Scott would have undertaken such a challenge. And a sterling effort it is.

Fave tracks? Well, they are not as bountiful as in Vol. 1. Nonetheless, Can’t Explain and Cross My Mind are so invasive you almost feel like a fly on the recording studio wall. Talk To Me rides high, starting from a steady funky tempo into a big jazz swinging number. Dope. My Petition is subliminal and pertinent. Golden is a catchy self reaffirming anthem. Yeah, yeah!

Beautifully Human particularly draws its premium from it's lyrics, which can be polemic (“I am not afraid to be your whore”), contrite (“I played you dirty, boy…while you were only trying to treat me good”) and extolling to the core (“You’re represented in the fashion of the truly gifted!”). That sort of praise only comes when you‘re fulfilling your conjugal obligations immeasurably. Along with spoken word breaks that are intonated with such deftness, Scott leaves you in no doubt on her acumen for libretto.

Jill Scott’s second studio album does not disappoint. It has a sincere depth that very few recent soul albums have attained. It passes the dreaded sophomore test with flying colours. It does not reach the giddy heights of Vol. 1. but then what other soul album has since its release? In between albums, surely, Scott must have developed in one sense or another. This is where she’s at, musically, and it’s a good place. Enjoy.

RELATED LINKS:
Jill Scott - official website.
Hidden Beach - record label home to Jill Scott.


Buy Jill Scott' Beautifully Human: Words And Sounds Vol. 2 album at Amazon
UK (CD) | US (CD).



PUBLISHED: 18 September 2004

RELEASE DATE: 30 August 2004 (UK) | 31 August 2004 (US)

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