No release date but I am getting really hyped about some of these versions... Private Dancer? Waterfalls? This should be some strange, indeed.

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http://www.thekurlandagen...egeocello/

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There are albums dedicated to personal pain, or political protest, love, death, nostalgia, rage. There are those that are simply fun, glossy, the soundtrack to a good time. Some are exploratory, a musical journey, shapeshifting soundmaking, a new way to do an old thing. An artist can make a choice about concept and content, or heed a vision, follow their muse or their manager. But in times so extreme and overwhelming, when there is no known expression for the feeling, no satisfactory direction for art or action, then they might take refuge in a process, a ritual, something familiar, the shape and sound of which recall another time altogether, so that they can weather the present long enough to call it the past. Some albums are testimony, some confessions, and some are escape. “Ventriloquism”, the latest album from MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO, is a place, like its process, to take refuge from one storm too many.

I´m curious to hear I Wonder If I Take You Home.

Thanks for sharing this announcement, StrangeButTrue. I look forward to a new Me'shell album. I think she does a great job with covers--really takes ahold of the material and puts something on to enhance the spirit of the song. From the description of what we can look forward to it seems as though this could be an album for all seasons and spirits and certainly a distraction from what's going on in the wide world.

couldn't find the track listing on the link...oh well. looks interesting for sure

The release was supposed to be in November. Any updates?

She still owes me $100 for a show where she practiced with a new band with her back on the audience.

New album Me'Shell?

Slave2daGroove said:

She still owes me $100 for a show where she practiced with a new band with her back on the audience.

New album Me'Shell?

I heard that she often does that because people take pictures of her even though she is strictly against it, and she risks seizures because of that.

KoolEaze said:

Slave2daGroove said:

She still owes me $100 for a show where she practiced with a new band with her back on the audience.

New album Me'Shell?

I heard that she often does that because people take pictures of her even though she is strictly against it, and she risks seizures because of that.

Sometimes you have to roll with whatever energy the musician is bringing to the stage. For the artists, they have to roll with whatever energy the audience is bringing to the show, too. I imagine that there could have been quite a few guests with their camera phones up and running through the show with that being a distraction to her. A musician might be a showboat and not even care, but then you have Me'Shell. Venues don't give refunds, except maybe for no-shows. Me'shell might give you a discount, tho'--LOL.

I remember once convincing a good pal to attend a Me'shell show in Brooklyn. I told her it would be an evening of melodic R&B, thrilling solos, and soothing vocals. We found instead a dark, almost heavy metal vibe and heavier versions of songs like the unreleased "Point Of No Return" and "Die Alone". Needless to say she was a bit surprised by this type of music but her feedback was that despite my description she was impressed with the musicians and the incredibly different direction. I didn't know any of the song names, lyrics, etc. at that point and was definitely confused. But that shit was rockin' whatever it was. You're not gonna hear what u expect at a Me'shell show, ain't nothing wrong with that.

KoolEaze said:

Slave2daGroove said:

She still owes me $100 for a show where she practiced with a new band with her back on the audience.

New album Me'Shell?

I heard that she often does that because people take pictures of her even though she is strictly against it, and she risks seizures because of that.

Yes, this is true, I was at a show and it was even on Youtube, where she had a female dancer out (into the audience) and she was promoting her 4th album, people were taking photos and she asked them not to, and you could tell it was affecting her.

StrangeButTrue said:

I remember once convincing a good pal to attend a Me'shell show in Brooklyn. I told her it would be an evening of melodic R&B, thrilling solos, and soothing vocals. We found instead a dark, almost heavy metal vibe and heavier versions of songs like the unreleased "Point Of No Return" and "Die Alone". Needless to say she was a bit surprised by this type of music but her feedback was that despite my description she was impressed with the musicians and the incredibly different direction. I didn't know any of the song names, lyrics, etc. at that point and was definitely confused. But that shit was rockin' whatever it was. You're not gonna hear what u expect at a Me'shell show, ain't nothing wrong with that.

True, SBT.

Germanegro said:

KoolEaze said:

I heard that she often does that because people take pictures of her even though she is strictly against it, and she risks seizures because of that.

Sometimes you have to roll with whatever energy the musician is bringing to the stage. For the artists, they have to roll with whatever energy the audience is bringing to the show, too. I imagine that there could have been quite a few guests with their camera phones up and running through the show with that being a distraction to her. A musician might be a showboat and not even care, but then you have Me'Shell. Venues don't give refunds, except maybe for no-shows. Me'shell might give you a discount, tho'--LOL.

I respect musicians but if she's going to practice, the people who paid $50 a ticket should know that.

I'm not sure if she thinks she's Miles Davis or what. At least he had musicians with talent and the skills to back it up. This was a waste of time and money and nobody was taking pictures.

If you're in it for pictures maybe Me'shell isn't the artist for ya that seizure risk has been well-known amongst fans for decades now. Even at Cookie shows she had her back turned and cellphones weren't the standard at that point in time.

She don't like Cali?

StrangeButTrue said:

I remember once convincing a good pal to attend a Me'shell show in Brooklyn. I told her it would be an evening of melodic R&B, thrilling solos, and soothing vocals. We found instead a dark, almost heavy metal vibe and heavier versions of songs like the unreleased "Point Of No Return" and "Die Alone". Needless to say she was a bit surprised by this type of music but her feedback was that despite my description she was impressed with the musicians and the incredibly different direction. I didn't know any of the song names, lyrics, etc. at that point and was definitely confused. But that shit was rockin' whatever it was. You're not gonna hear what u expect at a Me'shell show, ain't nothing wrong with that.

Are those two songs out there somewhere? I've never heard

StrangeButTrue said:

I remember once convincing a good pal to attend a Me'shell show in Brooklyn. I told her it would be an evening of melodic R&B, thrilling solos, and soothing vocals. We found instead a dark, almost heavy metal vibe and heavier versions of songs like the unreleased "Point Of No Return" and "Die Alone". Needless to say she was a bit surprised by this type of music but her feedback was that despite my description she was impressed with the musicians and the incredibly different direction. I didn't know any of the song names, lyrics, etc. at that point and was definitely confused. But that shit was rockin' whatever it was. You're not gonna hear what u expect at a Me'shell show, ain't nothing wrong with that.

I convinced my wife to come with me to see her last year at an outdoor concert here in Detroit. I've seen her in concert 6 times, so I know enough to not go to her show and hope that she plays everything you want to hear. I told my wife to not have any expectations and just enjoy the music because if she went in with any preconcieved notions, she'd be disappointed. Well, not only was my wife upset and thought that her performance sucked, but most of the crowd started leaving after only about 20 minutes. She wasn't performing her most well known and loved material. In fact, outside of "Grace", "Rapid Fire", "Article 3", and "Shopping For Jazz", her set was mainly covers with an empasis on her Nina Simone record. I too would've loved to hear some of my favorite songs of hers, but because I know how Meshell can be, I just enjoyed the vibe, the musicianship, and had a great time! My wife? Not so much

The next day, people were on facebook complaining that this was the worst concert they've ever been to.

Its interesting, people clamor for the "old stuff" and "the hits" like what? "Outside Your Door" which must be a bit painful to perform after Brian McKnight jacked it, the crass/polarizing/sad "Leviticus Faggot" and unashamed "If Thats Your Boyfriend" then what? Otherwise its covers "Who Is He" "Love You Down" even "Poison Ivy"? A solo version of "Wild Night"? Lol. As some one said above she is not Miles Davis but she is likely one of the closest living artists in terms of scope and variety. If you're looking to hear Plantation Lullabies go to a Madonna show and see if she does Shoo Be Doo or a Janet show to see if she does Diamonds. Different time, different place, different era, different character basically. In a way she experiences a microcosm of what Prince must have endured with folks always wanting Purple Rain cuts despite the beautiful more relevant newer stuff.

She's hot.

Confirmed track list:

Ventriloquism Track List

1. Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam feat. Full Force – "I Wonder if I Take You Home"
2. Al B. Sure! – "Nite and Day"
3. Prince – "Sometimes it Snows in April"
4. TLC – "Waterfalls"
5. George Clinton – "Atomic Dog 2017"
6. Ralph Tresvant – "Sensitivity"
7. Janet Jackson – "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)"
8. Force MDs – "Tender Love"
9. The System – "Don't Disturb This Groove"
10. Tina Turner – "Private Dancer"
11. Sade – "Smooth Operator"

Ndegeocello puts a unique yet faithful spin on Prince's Parade ballad, opening her version with a rumbling tangle of bass and guitar that delicately unravels into the melody. Ndegeocello delivers an enthralling vocal performance, with her rich voice jumping between registers as each resonant syllable rounded off with a hush.
"I had to make something of him, for him," Ndegeocello tells Rolling Stone of her Prince cover. "I've made so much because of him. I still can't believe he's not on the planet and this was as close to closure as I'd get."

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"Sometimes It Snows In April" and Force MDs "Tender Love" clips are behind the source link above. The former is a Soundcloud clip, the latter from YouTube.

Yay today is like mini-Christmas.

[Edited 1/12/18 10:00am]

TrivialPursuit said:

Confirmed track list:

Ventriloquism Track List

1. Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam feat. Full Force – "I Wonder if I Take You Home"
2. Al B. Sure! – "Nite and Day"
3. Prince – "Sometimes it Snows in April"
4. TLC – "Waterfalls"
5. George Clinton – "Atomic Dog 2017"
6. Ralph Tresvant – "Sensitivity"
7. Janet Jackson – "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)"
8. Force MDs – "Tender Love"
9. The System – "Don't Disturb This Groove"
10. Tina Turner – "Private Dancer"
11. Sade – "Smooth Operator"

Ndegeocello puts a unique yet faithful spin on Prince's Parade ballad, opening her version with a rumbling tangle of bass and guitar that delicately unravels into the melody. Ndegeocello delivers an enthralling vocal performance, with her rich voice jumping between registers as each resonant syllable rounded off with a hush.
"I had to make something of him, for him," Ndegeocello tells Rolling Stone of her Prince cover. "I've made so much because of him. I still can't believe he's not on the planet and this was as close to closure as I'd get."

____________

"Sometimes It Snows In April" and Force MDs "Tender Love" clips are behind the source link above. The former is a Soundcloud clip, the latter from YouTube.

This is totally some org schitt.

I loves it!!! Now I want Me'shell to do the Tina Turner tribute for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. Hell the academy should let Me'shell curate the whole thing like they did that one time for Ellen's Grammy Song with Chaka Khan. That shit was funky.

Cinny said:

This is totally some org schitt.

Hey, don't shoot the messenger. I just cut n' pasted! hahaha

Just listened to the link on RS. I absolutely loved it.

Here is the song:

https://www.rollingstone....ng-w515356