Although I don't have none of her albums, I respect her for being different and groundbreaking. She's a chameleon too, another reason why I dig her,,,she doesn't stay on the same place musically for too long.

depends on what you like. my personal favorite is Bitter. but it's not really representative of the majority of her work. it's very low key and melancholy. if you're more into an r&b hip-hop edge, then go with her debut or Cookie. Peace Beyond Passion is somewhere between those 2 and Bitter, and is my second favorite.


sadly, the last 2 have passed me by completely.
[Edited 10/31/06 22:33pm]

Peace Beyond Passion

Difficult call - I love them all! Maybe one of those artists that you start from the beginning and follow the story...? A bit like Prince it's fascinating to see and feel Meshell's changes of direction.

The first album is basically fresh hip-hop beats with funky bass lines, the closest Meshell gets to the urban / nu soul scene. Peace Beyond Passion takes a funkier turn for the better, but also includes some great slower material and has quite a lot of input from Wendy & Lisa.

Bitter is fantatsic - very poignant, and never has an album been named so appropriately. Lots of slow beats, very little bass but great heart wrenching lyrics and tunes. Always think of Comfort Woman as the kind of mirror image but with Meshell in a much more positive frame of mind. A great album, and possibly my favourite.

Cookie is a bit of a return to the hip hop / urban scene, but supplemented by lots of poetry by people like Gil Scott-Heron. Nice, but over long IMHO.

Dance of the Infidel is jazz with a twist, so probably best not to start here.

Rumours are that the new material is more rock orientated.... Can't wait!

Hope that helps!

if u wanna hear her just outright tear up that bass, i'd start with "plantation" "cookie" and "infidel"....and if u'r lookin 4 soul food 4 thought/testimony pick any of the albums starting with "peace beyond passion"

andyd said:

Right from my alley
[Edited 11/1/06 1:26am]

Harlepolis said:

If you like it, try to get some live boots of that tour, as the live concert I saw of that tour stands out among ALL the concerts I have ever seen.

It was like seeing the Miles Davis Band era the 70's, updated to the Noughties. Truly amazing.

Don't get me wrong - I absolutely love Dance Of The Infidel, and like you say the tour was simply awesome. Loved the afrobeat vibe going on too...

just wouldn't say it was necessarily the best place to start your Meshell collection!

andyd said:

Then again, knowing Harlepolis, it might be just the right place... but you are right when you say it is not a true representive of her recording carreer.
On the other hand, I think this album, and especially the performances, showed Meshell playing music in a way I thought fit her very well. She seemed even more into the groove than any other concert I have seen her play, except maybe that performance with that dub-group, when she was quite, well, out of it.

AndyD, I really like the break down of her albums.

yes, yes and yes....oh, and yes

HamsterHuey said:

Funny you mentioned Miles, I've read about the Bitches Brew hint in other reviews I guess its THAT deadly

In fact, the couple of reviews I read about Dance of the Infidel are what made me intrigued by the woman

Thank you guys for the heads-up.

Should you start?

CinisterCee said:

Is that an inside joke, Cee?

Nah, I'm just disinterested by her. I'll shut my trap now

Girlfriend, do not get me started:

Check out this thread on the last concert I just went to:

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/207125

And this thread about 1 star reviews where I discuss Peace Beyond Passion (which is my favorite):

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/146200


I think you would love Cookie too because that is proably her most hardcore political/social album.

And CinCee.....I will pretend like I never read the words you just typed

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

CinisterCee said:

But u dig rap? CC.....what's up?

CinisterCee said:

Harle, I have no clue where you should start - just START NOW!!

CalhounSq said:

Girl, get your ass over to my thread! And you said you saw her not too long ago but she said we were the first audience to catch these new grooves so QUIT YA DAMN JOB IF YOU MUST AND GET OUT AND SEE HER SHOW!

And isn't it amazing the quality of all these albums? Not one of em full of filler or meaningless crap.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I just posted!!!

And I can't make her next gig. Shit, it may have happened already

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

to me, Plantation and Cookie have some filler. and, at least in my memory or feelings about them, sound a little too similar. they also happen to be my least favorite of the (first) 4 that i know.

CinisterCee said:

I would have thought "Cookie" would be an all time favourite of urs