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 I have had the privelege of seeing ms. scott perform b4 her debut album dropped, first time she came back to Philly to perform after the cd had won extreme critical acclaim (with Music Soulchild), and at Radio City Music Hall. Each of those performances were different. This album gives fans the opportunity to relive their repective concert experiences with jilly. Even those who have not had the privelege to see her live get a chance to feel the energy from the live performance. The bonus cd, which features 4 new tracks, a poem (performed in philly - the one I attended :-D), and two remixes (one of Gotta Get Up and a club version of He Loves Me). Pay attention to the poem (Thickness) people. I am so happy that they decided to put this on the CD. A definite eye opening poem. "Gotta Get Up" is going to remain in my cd player for me to wake up to everyday - the perfect morning inspirational song. Only reason I didn't give this five stars is the waiting for the last track on the second cd to begin, leading me to search for the song. Note to jilly and her production team: please stop adding these blank parts. It's just plain annoying.
This disc gives you WAY more than you're paying for. At 2 discs, one of which is live (with one of the tightest groove bands I've ever heard) and the other comprised of 9 new tracks (11 if you count the embedded hidden tracks on #9), you're getting a MASSIVE amount of Jill at the top of her form for very little cost. Considering you paid more for the last uneven Maxwell record, the had-to-grow-on-you Badu "Mama's Gun" and about a dozen or so other pointless exercises in R&B today, you're not only getting a bargain, you're practically set for the next 6 months. I know what you're thinking: "I'm really only paying for 9(11) new songs, so what am I actualy getting new?" The CD of new stuff is also pretty darn amazing, even if there are a few "huh?" moments there. The sister is a sassy chameleon of styles, out-Baduing Badu on "Gotta Get Up"(#2) and out-Graying Macy on "Sweet Justice"(#4), but almost to the point of sounding exactly like them, which isn't all bad, since her songs are stronger than almost all of the songs on Badu's "Mama's Gun" and both of Gray's albums put together with the national anthem thrown in. The songs flip from excellent smoothed out groove to sly hip-hoppy-ness to a pretty good live poem recitation. Her messages are clear, her voice strong and her production and unit tight as a new bongo head. Do the tracks dig in you like the first record? Not in the same way and not as deep upon first listen, but they stick with you and you'll be pulling your hair out trying to decide which disc to play for at least the next 4-6 months, no matter how much you play it. Sister Jill slips out of 2001 with the best R&B record of the year...maybe the best record of the year.
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With her critically acclaimed, Grammy nominated debut album, WHO IS JILL SCOTT? WORDS & SOUNDS: VOLUME 1, Philadelphia vocal sensation, Jill Scott, made her mark on the music scene with her fresh and ethereal musicality and non-conventional imaging, to say the least. Without believing any of the hype, the neo-soul musical wunderkind is about to it again on this two-disc set featuring live songs recorded in Washington, DC, Los Angeles and Scott s hometown of Philadelphia, along with some new and unreleasedcuts. Titled EXPERIENCE: JILL SCOTT, the 21-track, CD collection is aural pleasuring at its finest.
