"Healer" is just sublime.
― maciej recognizing trill, Saturday, 25 October 2008 04:21 (fifteen years ago) link
I vote "whole album," but "The Cell" is otherworldly.
― Eric H., Saturday, 25 October 2008 04:29 (fifteen years ago) link
I also love the Obama intro to "Soldier."
― Eric H., Saturday, 25 October 2008 04:32 (fifteen years ago) link
fwiw, I don't think that's Obama
― mujeres con dos, tres, quatro, cinco tetas (The Reverend), Saturday, 25 October 2008 04:45 (fifteen years ago) link
Shoot. I guess I fixated on the word "change" and assumed it was him. I don't recognize the speech and the clip's too short.
― Eric H., Saturday, 25 October 2008 04:53 (fifteen years ago) link
i vote whole album, too. HOW CAN I CHOOSE?
― horseshoe, Saturday, 25 October 2008 05:08 (fifteen years ago) link
"That Hump" because of the Switch "I Call Your Name" 'sample'.
I really wish the tracks developed more, though. "The Cell" obviously has a sweet bass line, but the track just repeats the whole way through! I just wish the grooves went somewhere.
― Patrick South, Saturday, 25 October 2008 05:39 (fifteen years ago) link
i chose telephone, but really this whole album is genius.
― MacElby's Puddin'© (stevie), Saturday, 25 October 2008 12:24 (fifteen years ago) link
where's 'real thang'? it's not my favourite but it's just so righteous - i think it and 'honey', the most straightforwardly tuneful tracks on the album, work really well as bonus tracks. 'real thang' is endlessly quotable too - "got to balance your chakra, raise your octave to opera", "your double helix gon' triple", "shatter glasses like ella" and most of all the spoken ad libs: "sir, i think you better tell your soldiers that they need to - FALL BACK! cuz we comin' with a centrifugal force, it's about to get metaphysical y'all"
anyway it's between 'the cell', 'the healer' and 'soldier' for me, but more than any other album this year it just feels wrong to pinpoint particular favourites, it's such a cohesive work overall.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 25 October 2008 18:08 (fifteen years ago) link
i dont have real thang on my copy!
― t_g, Saturday, 25 October 2008 18:17 (fifteen years ago) link
holy shit. just found real thang. it's the b-side to "the healer" 12" righteous is right. DAMN. is this supposed to be off of part 2 or something? and when do we get return of the ankh anyway?
― the other Alex in MTL, in fact (Alex in Montreal), Saturday, 25 October 2008 19:06 (fifteen years ago) link
I think "Real Thang" (which I haven't heard) is only on socialist British pressings or some shit like that.
― R$ (The Reverend), Saturday, 25 October 2008 19:09 (fifteen years ago) link
didn't she do that with i want you on worldwide underground?, too?kinda makes me wish i hadn't waited to move to america before buying a copy.
― schlump, Saturday, 25 October 2008 21:12 (fifteen years ago) link
"I Want You" is right in the middle of my American copy of WWU. Best song on the album, too.
― R$ (The Reverend), Saturday, 25 October 2008 21:55 (fifteen years ago) link
ah o k. i haven't got that one yet, i'm not sure why i thought so. maybe there are other bonus tracks on uk one. such a perfect song:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1uxsc_erykah-badu-i-want-you_music
― schlump, Saturday, 25 October 2008 22:16 (fifteen years ago) link
"That Hump"
― Put A Ring On It (The Brainwasher), Friday, October 24, 2008 10:34 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― joe 40oz (deej), Saturday, 25 October 2008 22:21 (fifteen years ago) link
"the cell", but having to pick one is near impossible
― tricky, Sunday, 26 October 2008 02:10 (fifteen years ago) link
haha 'real thang; is uk-only'?! i will upload tomorrow when not fall over drunx
― lex pretend, Sunday, 26 October 2008 02:24 (fifteen years ago) link
UH HUH
― lex pretend, Sunday, 26 October 2008 02:25 (fifteen years ago) link
i think i want to vote for "the healer" now
― tricky, Sunday, 26 October 2008 02:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Twinkle- i love the eerieness of the production, the way her voice gets twisted all the way through the song and that verse about warlocks and witches with ill glitches.
― Christyles, Sunday, 26 October 2008 05:48 (fifteen years ago) link
Telephone
― LIL HOOSANE (PappaWheelie V), Sunday, 26 October 2008 05:56 (fifteen years ago) link
I don't know why, but nothing on the album has grabbed me yet -- I think my ears are so conditioned to track-only, singles listening that stuff just blows by if there's not a hook (i.e. I'd vote for "whole album" too). Looking for "Real Thang" now -- on the version I have there's a track just listed as "Bonus Track," but that appears to be "Honey"
― mitya, Sunday, 26 October 2008 06:01 (fifteen years ago) link
this album is great... i voted for "soldier," though it was really a tie between it, "the healer" and "the cell"
― Professor Respect, Sunday, 26 October 2008 06:13 (fifteen years ago) link
Me was a close 2nd
― LIL HOOSANE (PappaWheelie V), Sunday, 26 October 2008 06:31 (fifteen years ago) link
'real thang'
― lex pretend, Sunday, 26 October 2008 09:32 (fifteen years ago) link
― Pottie Skippen (Granny Dainger), Sunday, 26 October 2008 11:32 (fifteen years ago) link
hip-hopis bigger than religion
― Black Seinfeld (HI DERE), Sunday, 26 October 2008 13:21 (fifteen years ago) link
master teacher pt 2.
― titchyschneiderMk2, Sunday, 26 October 2008 13:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Right I just listened to this to decide. It's Me, The Cell or 2nd part of Master Teacher... or Telephone.. one of those anyway.
― mmmm, Sunday, 26 October 2008 17:41 (fifteen years ago) link
cell is way overrated. it sounds like something from 91.
― titchyschneiderMk2, Sunday, 26 October 2008 19:11 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm compelled to admit I prefer the tornadic first half of "master teacher," just to balance the scales.
― Eric H., Sunday, 26 October 2008 19:43 (fifteen years ago) link
cell nu amerykah pt. 1 is way overrated.― titchyschneiderMk2
I think this is what you meant to write.
Plus, sounds like 1991 sounds like awesome.
― Eric H., Sunday, 26 October 2008 19:44 (fifteen years ago) link
yep
― Cittaslow Mazza (blueski), Sunday, 26 October 2008 19:49 (fifteen years ago) link
"The Cell" sounds like something from 1973, specifically, something by Stevie Wonder.
― R$ (The Reverend), Sunday, 26 October 2008 21:24 (fifteen years ago) link
stevie wonder was using lightweight breakbeats and blanded out synths in 1973?
― titchyschneiderMk2, Sunday, 26 October 2008 22:11 (fifteen years ago) link
the whole album sounds like it wishes it lived back in 1973. is that good or bad? i dunno. but that doesn't mean i wouldn't take Call Me and Fresh (and Burnin') over this had ir been released then.
― THE TOWER OF HUMANOID ANTIBODIES!!! (Ioannis), Sunday, 26 October 2008 22:18 (fifteen years ago) link
there are about 3 or 4 tracks tops that sound like they could have been made back then. even then, only amerykahn promise sounds *properly* retro, everything else in that old school soul/jazz/funk vein sounds like its been made recently.
― titchyschneiderMk2, Sunday, 26 October 2008 22:20 (fifteen years ago) link
The Cell has synths?
― Cittaslow Mazza (blueski), Sunday, 26 October 2008 22:23 (fifteen years ago) link
The wobbly bassline and finger snaps in "The Healer" set an incredibly nice vibe in the room everytime i put this on, so I'm going with that. I must say, I don't really like the first track, though. I think it's a little too aggressive sounding, and seems out of place with the rest of the album.
― Dan S, Sunday, 26 October 2008 22:48 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Thursday, 30 October 2008 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Friday, 31 October 2008 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link
i am pretty cool with these results, aside from "Honey" getting shafted
― some dude, Friday, 31 October 2008 00:15 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah wtf?
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 31 October 2008 00:21 (fifteen years ago) link
well i'm not saying that's surprising, generally i think people who know an album won't vote for the single in a poll like this even if they like it
― some dude, Friday, 31 October 2008 00:41 (fifteen years ago) link
Also, "Honey" kind of feels like an addendum to, rather than a component of the album.
― Gene Amondson (The Reverend), Friday, 31 October 2008 06:46 (fifteen years ago) link
wtf, people; this is the only thread where we can specifically talk about this album!!?
anyhow, i din't want to sidetrack the whatcha listening to thread any further... so i'll post this here instead: "New Amerykah makes me think of something Matos told me about Sign O the Times: "You will never get to the bottom of that album." It is the meatiest album I've heard in a long time."
sure. but so what? the main difference between the two, for me, being that SotT has at least ten GRATE songs on it; whereas, New Amerykah... has what esactly??? i mean, i keep waiting for the damn songs to sink in, but it just ain't happening. yet.
― Ioannis, Thursday, 13 November 2008 13:47 (fifteen years ago) link
SotT has at least ten GRATE songs on it; whereas, New Amerykah... has what esactly???
11.
― Eric H., Thursday, 13 November 2008 13:49 (fifteen years ago) link
i mean, i keep waiting for the damn songs to sink in, but it just ain't happening. yet.
I don't know how long you've had it, but it took me about 3 months to realize this album's greatness.
― The stic.man from the hilarious 'Dead Prez' albums (some dude), Thursday, 13 November 2008 13:51 (fifteen years ago) link
rev otm
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Friday, 16 November 2012 21:40 (eleven years ago) link
That Hump
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 9 May 2013 19:43 (eleven years ago) link
second verse is the best vocal performance of her career imo
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 9 May 2013 19:46 (eleven years ago) link
Only smoked a joint or two betwixt me and you.
― Not Simone Choule (Eric H.), Thursday, 9 May 2013 19:46 (eleven years ago) link
that hump makes me sob tbh
― horseshoe, Thursday, 9 May 2013 22:18 (eleven years ago) link
always feel like whiney is going to pop up and take me to task for ^ that sentiment, but it's true
i just got to find a wayof liiiiivingcheck tooo checkjust tryin to pay my rent and i can feel itcoming down around me and this children;_;
― horseshoe, Thursday, 9 May 2013 22:21 (eleven years ago) link
can i just posit the brother on her floor as the punctum here
― daft on the causes of punk (schlump), Thursday, 9 May 2013 22:34 (eleven years ago) link
my brother's sleeping on my floora bitch could use a little moooooore
― horseshoe, Thursday, 9 May 2013 22:37 (eleven years ago) link
otm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
― J0rdan S., Friday, 6 March 2015 03:02 (nine years ago) link
That Hump 1
recount
Thanks to some dude, I've relistened to her catalog in the last three days and am gone baby gone all over again.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 6 March 2015 03:18 (nine years ago) link
This was polled way too early.
Master Teacher has always been my favourite.
― Kitchen Person, Friday, 6 March 2015 03:57 (nine years ago) link
i'd've voted soldier. this is the album that keeps on giving
― bae sremmurd (monotony), Friday, 6 March 2015 04:30 (nine years ago) link
I can't even with these two albums. Parts 1 and 2 are collectively our Songs in the Key of Life.
― Eric H., Friday, 6 March 2015 06:29 (nine years ago) link
Every song on this album is great, I've been feeling That Hump lately (no pun intended)
― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Friday, 6 March 2015 14:24 (nine years ago) link
That Hump is the best
― the saer returns (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 6 March 2015 15:03 (nine years ago) link
"me" is my jam, love that tune so much
― marcos, Friday, 6 March 2015 15:23 (nine years ago) link
"The Cell" is mine.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 6 March 2015 15:28 (nine years ago) link
I had no idea until Al's rundown that Master Teacher had spawned a popular hashtag
― the saer returns (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 6 March 2015 15:36 (nine years ago) link
Did we ever poll the second? We should. (Or both together, even.)― dead-trius (Eric H.), Friday, February 17, 2012 4:08 PM (3 years ago)
Nu AmErykah, Poll 1 + 2 (4th World War + Return of the Ankh)
― Eric H., Friday, 6 March 2015 15:47 (nine years ago) link
― the saer returns (Drugs A. Money), Friday, March 6, 2015 7:36 AM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
stay woke, dawg
― raih dednelb (The Reverend), Friday, 6 March 2015 21:16 (nine years ago) link
for the "That Hump" fans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMpSpWeYRPA
― raih dednelb (The Reverend), Friday, 6 March 2015 21:23 (nine years ago) link
Thank you, Paul McCartney for writing "Arrow Through Me" so Badu could pilfer it.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 6 March 2015 21:29 (nine years ago) link
xp Lol I always thought that that "day and night, night and day..." part in That Hump was a callback to Didnt Cha Know
― the war on me (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 6 March 2015 23:01 (nine years ago) link
No votes for honey is insane, song's pure joy
― kolakube (Ross), Saturday, 3 March 2018 20:39 (six years ago) link
What a perfect album this is. Can't believe it has already been 10 years!
― kitchen person, Saturday, 3 March 2018 20:43 (six years ago) link
damn I just realized "Twinkle" uses the drum pattern from "Sucker MCs"
― Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix), Friday, 26 October 2018 02:28 (five years ago) link
this album is thirteen years old (!)
HOW DOES IT STILL SOUND SO CONTEMPORARY???
― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Saturday, 10 July 2021 18:48 (three years ago) link
She should make another album
― burnt hombre (stevie), Sunday, 11 July 2021 11:09 (three years ago) link
fr.
and since we're on the subject of things that will never happen: the world needs that erykah / andre3000 duets album more than ever at this point.
― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Sunday, 11 July 2021 16:41 (three years ago) link
― marcos, Friday, March 6, 2015 9:23 AM (six years ago) bookmarkflaglink
this is what i wdve voted for
― class project pat (m bison), Sunday, 11 July 2021 16:48 (three years ago) link
i don't think we'll ever hear the badu/andre3000 album but I think we could definitely hear a new album from her at some point
I still think her Tiny Desk show is one of the greatest things I've seen in years - the only real competition is other online shows she's done - and I do wish she'd press it up on vinyl and sell it me
― burnt hombre (stevie), Sunday, 11 July 2021 18:01 (three years ago) link
you speak truth, stevie. good man.
― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Sunday, 11 July 2021 18:59 (three years ago) link
+1 for "Me"
― J. Sam, Sunday, 11 July 2021 19:19 (three years ago) link
Best album ever recorded.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 11 July 2021 19:23 (three years ago) link
nothing long form since the phone ep, right?
― Yours in Sorrow, A Schoolboy: (forksclovetofu), Monday, 12 July 2021 17:03 (three years ago) link
Which itself is like 8 years old now too, right?
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Monday, 12 July 2021 17:09 (three years ago) link
OK, I guess only 6. Point is, every year without a new Badu album feels like an eternity.
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Monday, 12 July 2021 17:10 (three years ago) link
WILL THEY EVER FIND THE VACCINE??
― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Monday, 12 July 2021 17:51 (three years ago) link