Heavy, soul-baring lyricism delivered with spiritual resonance
and wise authority by Gil Scott-Heron – his first album shot in far too many years,
and a direct hit – essential listening for longtime listeners
and neophytes alike
and a well worthy entry in a legendary career! Scott-Heron is documenting his world as profoundly
and poetically as ever here,
and the production is built with spare, haunting beats
and atmospheric bits of strings, guitar, keys, loose atmospherics
and hazy electronics – loosely framing his voice
and giving it all the room in needs to carry the mood. Gil sings
and speaks with equal authority throughout,
and you can hear the years in his voice like never before, giving him the worn edges of the old soul he always evoked. This is a record we're proud to put among his treasured recordings of the 70s
and early 80s. Titles include "On Coming From A Broken Home" (Parts 1 & 2), "Your Soul
And Mine", "I'll Take Care Of You", "Where Did The Night Go", "Running", "The Crutch"
and more, including several interludes that are pretty amazing – captures of conversation that show Gil nearly as charismatic
and poetic in "off" moments as he is recording a song. Also includes 2 covers, "Me
And The Devil" (the Robert Johnson song)
and the title track, Smog/
Bill Callahan's "I'm New Here", given a whole new life. Expanded anniversary version also features some great material recorded at the same time – the titles "Handsome
Johnny", "My Cloud", "Piano Player", "King Henry IV", "Jazz",
and 2010 live studio takes of "Home Is Where The Hatred Is", "Is That Jazz",
and "
Winter In America".