Just checked out amazon to maybe order the new cd, and up popped a picture of the new cd. I'm sure I'm gonna love it and this kind of solidifies the actual release date. But am I the only one who thought that "Top Shelf", would make the album? Believe me Im grateful, just love some of those kicking songs.

Maybe it will be an iTunes exclusive, or bonus track on the Japanese disc... *crosses fingers for 41 days*

i thought "top shelf" would make the cut, too. i am also crossing my fingers that it will be released some other kinda way....tho i'm totally geeked for the new cd regardless.

available on wax to?....SaWEEET!
I'm definitely gonna preorder on wax & cd right through the freemyheart link matt so thanks heads-up folks

(i guess i'm kinda' in my 'gotta have a wax version too' mode because the other day i got ahold of a really clean copy of "Plantation Lullabies" on vinyl along with a nice wax copy of one of Prince's old extended 12"remixes ("Mountains") ...so yeah, i'm definitely in my 'vinyl vibe' at the moment

Thank you Derek

Can't wait to hear the new music!

I met Deantoni parks last sunday and he told me that Devil's Halo is a bit like bitter meets elvis' sunset record days.

added info from that earlier link...

"Canonized, marginalized or just scrutinized, Meshell Ndegeocello has given up trying to explain herself. After 20 years in an industry that has called her everything from avant garde to a dying breed, what unquestionably remains is the fearsome bassist, prolific songwriter and the creativity and curiosity of an authentic musical force. With that, she has earned critical acclaim, the unfailing respect of fellow players, songwriters and composers, and the dedication of her diverse, unclassifiable fans.

Devil’s Halo, Meshell’s 8th album and her first for Mercer Street, harkens back to the way records used to be made: no click track or electronic synthetics, with a focus on musicianship and live band energy. Meshell feels that Devil’s Halo represents a return to a place that she truly appreciates, music that is created and performed by people’s hands. Produced by Meshell and guitarist Chris Bruce, and influenced by a wide breadth of sounds – from The Human League to Wu Tang to Yes – Devil’s Halo displays Meshell’s vocals and diversity throughout.

Meshell says of Devil’s Halo, “I guess I’ve ended up believing in the gray area, the dichotomies and the unknowable. This record is all about contrast – then and now, raw and polished, beats and harmonies, Devil’s Halo, good in evil in all things. I know some people want more of what they’ve heard and I know other people want the envelope pushed every time and I feel like this record makes peace with all of them”. She adds, “I love heavy bass and dub and beats, but I also sit and play the piano and write a song inspired by a pub in Dublin. I’m not representing anymore – I’m a musician, that’s all I can offer. Each record is just meant to say: here’s where that’s led me today.”

See?

Just Gentle & deep...

The girl is baa-ad..

just pre-ordered my albums through the link here on FMH. looking forward to next month...

My wax came in this week!! ( was kinda worried because amazon had a 'this item has been discontinued' notification on the album at their site).

i've been listening to the album (on cd) for a while now...wanted to let it sink in real good before forming my own impressions. but now that its had time to marinate and now that i've seen the live set i'm feeling like i have emersed myself enough to get a good feel for how it hits me...gonna try to blab my 2cents over the weekend...(would try to do it now BUT it's been a crazy work week (more layoffs ....though lucky for me i wasnt one of the unfortunate ones, but it still depresses me when it happens to anyone)... but since i'm already halfway through my second bottle of wine tonight i'll wait till i'm completely sober before i try to express any coherent thoughts on the record and live show

later ya'll!

wow, i haven't been on this board in forever!

but i wanted to drop a line and say, albeit late, that i am totally and deeply immersed into the new album and am in love with each & every track! i've always stood by my declaration that bitter is the best album, by far, ever made by any artist - pure & simple musical genius. halo, well, it's right up there, just about. musical genius indeed. i hope everyone else is enjoying it as much as i am. i'm a little squeamish to admit that it took me a while to take the time out to listen to it with full attention, and now that i have, i can't stop. halo has been my constant companion ever since.

cheers to meshell for sharing her & the band's genius.
peace
deshi

The new CD has overtaken "Bitter" for me, which I too thought would never happen.

hey matthew.. i don't think i can go there... i still think bitter is my #1. but it takes a lot for me to say that anything else is that close, and devil's halo is.
having heard so many of these songs live, it was so refreshing and crisp to hear the studio versions, to be able to hone in on every sound, every lyric, every layer... mmm.
before i used to always hear studio versions first and then long for the extended live versions but it was a nice change to go from live to studio and really notice and admire the difference. i think it'll even enhance my next live experience, if that's even possible.
so yeah - it warms me to know that new music can still do this to me.
peace
deshi

Hey Deshi. I'm just starting to memorize words on Halo. But it's going to take a while for the studio versions to overtake the little cringe I inevitably get when my brain knows that she killed it live. I'm definitely diggin' it though.

Dang grrrl, we still haven't met. I'll be in Chi-Town for my birthday weekend in two weeks. It'd be nice to catch up with you.

(O.K. edit) I've taken my sweet time between listens on this one, but I just had that epiphanous moment that brought tears and shudders. I have yet to experience that with Bitter (on the whole). It's time me to reassess my rankings of Meshell material. Whew!