Future Classic: I'm New Here

   In my previous post I said that I was going to review the Transformers movie, and I still plan to but something came up that I feel was more important to get out there as soon as possible. I’m calling this review a Future Classic? I plan on using this title to spotlight something that has just come out and in the future may become a classic work that will be added to the tapestry of pop culture. It also helps that the title is short and sweet; otherwise the title of this review would have to be” why I owe a debt of gratitude to Todd in the Shadows”.  

     For those who don’t know, Todd in the Shadows is an internet reviewer who specializes in reviewing pop music. A few months ago he put out a video for his  Top 10 Best Hit Songs of 2012 , at number 1 he placed the song “Take Care” by Drake and Rihanna. Now, I really have nothing against Drake and I do like a few Rihanna songs but what caught my attention was a small lead up segment Todd made involving a sample that was placed into “Take Care”. The piece was from a song called “I’ll Take Care Of You”, a cover of an R&B song from the 1950s, the cover in this case recorded in 2010 by Gil Scott-Heron and remixed by Jamie XX of the XX. 

Top 10 Best Hit Songs of 2012

    The song grabbed my attention and I was compelled to seek it out, I found both the original recording done by Scott-Heron as well as the remix and I was hooked. I bought both versions on vinyl, the first being the album with the original song called “I’m New Here” which is the subject of this review. Gil Scott-Heron was a spoken word/jazz artist who had some good exposure in the late 60s and 70s with his spoken verse recording of “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. He continued to record and tour until his death in 2011, and “I’m New Here” was released in 2010, one year before his death.

   The record only runs at about 22 minutes but it is a powerful record, the tracks are bookended by a spoken word recording called “On Coming from a Broken Home Parts 1 and 2” where Gil describes his upbringing being raised by his grandmother after the dissolution of his own family. Also on the album is a cover of a Robert Johnson song called “Me and the Devil” which is sung very powerfully almost as though he’s resigned himself to his fate after taking stock of the events of his life. Then of course is “I’ll Take Care of You”, a song sung with a longing to do whatever it takes to bring some happiness into the life of someone he cares about.

   There are other songs and spoken word prose on this album that’s just as good but I don’t want to go and spoil everything. I can tell you that once those 22 minutes are over I was left speechless, I can tell you that is the first time that has ever happened to me. I find it a fitting epitaph, the final work of a great artist along the same level as Johnny Cash’s American IV: When the Man Comes Around”. A bold statement I know, but not one I make lightly. My suggestion is, get this album, set aside a few minutes in the day to listen, turn every distraction off and just sit there and listen. It may blow you away like it did me, maybe it won’t. Either way I can guarantee that you won’t regret it.