Jill Scott - The Real Thing, Words And Sounds Vol.3
General Description
Artist/Band: Jill Scott 
|| 
Album Title: The Real Thing (Words And Sounds Vol.3)
Year: 2007
Almost had me fooled..
How I Got Into This Music
One of my favorite musicians/songwriters of this decade. Love the lady’s talent, sharp mind, open hearted lyrics and wicked smile. Her previous album wasn’t that much of a joy to listen to, but I saw her perform live and that’s more than enough compensation, GO SEE THE WOMAN PERFORM LIVE!
Now that I’ve ruled out any chance of an objective review of this latest album, let’s get to business..
Google Search for reviews of this album || Album details at Artistdirect.com || 
Tracks that got my attention:
Let It Be
Each opening track on her albums is an incredible introduction to this lady’s talents: a mix of dry drums, vocal changeups from soft whispers to bombast opera hall and clear declaration of her love for music.
Hate On Me
Much discussed first single release. The drum beats are great, the rest of the production is okay, nothing really exceptional. But the lyrics are what it’s all about, not clear to me if this is a simple venting of emotions concerning her recent marital breakup or a pure and simple declaration: you do not wanna cross a pissed-off Jilly..
I’m thinking both.
Crow Royal
I love it when Jill turns on the nasty lyrics, DAMNDAMNDAMN!
Your hands on my hips pull me right back to you
I catch that thrust, give it right back to you
You’re in so deep, I’m breathing for you,
You grab my braids, arch my back high for you
Your diesel engine, I’m squirting mad oil
On down on the floor til my speaker starts to boil
I flip shit, Quick slip
Hip dip and I’m twisted
In your hands and your lips
And your tongue tricks
And you’re so thick and you’re so thick
And you’re so..
Crown Royal on ice
Crown Royal on ice (On Ice)
There are parts of the song that a heterosexual man can’t sing out loud without getting weird looks from the people around him, heheh.. See if I could give a flying fork 
Back to track, the brilliant simplicity: laidback keyboard effects, a very subdued bass line, a bit of percussion and Jilly on the double-dubbed vocals - my favorite track of the album (in case didn’t guess that yet)
Epiphany
Uhm.. Me Am Blushing.. Go Google the lyrics.. Best part of course is the final line. The track itself, it reminded me of.. of.. can’t put my finger on it. Another very simple setup, with the emphasis on the lyrics.
My Love
Nice track, a mix of Walk In The Park and Getting In The Way from her first album. The lyrics are compact and cut through diamonds. The bridge has a great lavish string arrangement on the background.
Cause ohh,
All I ever do is think about you baby
I hold you in my arms inside my dreams
And I know what I know and what I know is
That no matter where you go
You will always think of me
How It Make You Feel
If My Love was about not accepting the ex-lover moving on, this track’s more about strength: putting the black man in his place if he ever thought he could do without a black woman. For me, it’s a no-brainer, but maybe some guys still need this education 
Only You
Waaaay too many flashbacks to the Songstress, Miss Anita Baker.
Wanna Be Loved
Yep, back on the quality train with this track. Vocals arranged smoothly, another laidback setup and incredibly honest lyrics.
Breathe
This could be called a Real Jill Scott song: great soul vibe, brainy lyrics and Lady Scott ruling the mic!
Conclusion
Here’s Jill’s own comments on her album (no, I’m not that lazy, my own comments follow after)
“I’m feeling gutsier, I’m feeling much more bold, free. In many ways, it’s closer to my first album. My original concept was to show different women – you know, like the housekeeper, the stripper, the congresswoman - but as I started writing and recording, I started taking on all these characters. I put myself in each woman’s place…and found that it became more about me, all of it, with the envy, the anger, the frustration, the loneliness, the joy, the passion and the rapture.
And that’s what makes it juicy…”
Well, that explains quite a lot. For me, the first coupla times listening to this album was a bit boring, seemed that she was keeping things nice and simple, not really attached. But when I started listening and reading the lyrics, shit changed dramatically. I still think that a lot of tracks are way too lazily produced and performed (yes, I know, I will burn in Hell or White Heaven for that remark). But the tracks that stand out like Crown Royal, How It Make You Feel and others, really, really do stand out for their high quality of Soul and True Pen(wo)manship and, sadly, because the other tracks are below average.
So, I still prefer her first album and the live record better than this one, and, yes, The Real Thing still is a great album. Not just a Favorite of mine, ohwell..
And come November 23rd, I’ll be jumping, dancing, grooving, moving, singing, shouting, smiling and even crying of joy when I see this Lady Of Soul perform her stuff live again. GO SEE HER SHIT LIVE!!
Rating: 
(Did I already mention you should go and see her live on stage?)
