Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here (2010)

Bleak is indeed a good word for it; and I would say for his last two studio albums as well. That "final act" period in an addict's life where they will talk openly and maybe too candidly about who they are and what they rely on to get them through their days. It's something that I've sadly seen up close and to know that one of my musical heroes was reduced to that is definitely upsetting.

I did something that I don't ever recall doing before or since when reading one of his interviews in the 2000s. He was being asked about his recent run-ins with the law, which of course were substance related, and he interrupted the interviewer mid-question to ask his own question: "Look man, do you like to party? Do you like to have a good time?" I closed the newspaper (or magazine, whatever it was) and never finished reading the interview. In fact, even at this point, I've removed the memory from my brain so much that I don't even know why he was being interviewed at that point — upcoming shows, new music, a PR piece in the face of his legal issues? Don't know. I will acknowledge that it happened, but I'd rather not think about specifics, for the exact reason that it didn't seem like the GSH talking that I thought I knew.

His choice and performance of covers seem to get past any problems with originals: covers are self-expressive w/o making it too real for him, maybe that's why so many brief originals---he stops when he feels that he has to, for whatever reason.
What I said on What Are You Listening To:
Still haven't heard the original album, or Jamie xx's reworking, but the unmistakable sound and sensibility of classic Gil come through: sharp, reflective glints in the dark, rough-edged a fluid, lyrical and realist, searching and on point, thematic and grooving---jazzwise, yet "blues is a feeling" the overall. Only thing is, some of the originals are really short, like down to 37 seconds: golden kernals of potential and realization---McCraven is def. not showboating, but I wish he extended these--maybe he was required to stick to the original track times? I'd like a bit more---more like---Laswell redoing Marley and Miles?? Anyway, it's all good, though faves are mostly because they have longer to make an impression: "New York is Killing Me," "I'll Take Care of You," "Me and the Devil"--yes, Scott-Heron and Robert Johnson and Mr. D. on the Greyhoud, seems natural. Speaking voice is worn but clear, singing voice not that different from 70s.

― dow, Saturday, August 15, 2020 4:11 PM

This album is a modern classic. Finally bought a copy on vinyl which is nice to look at (pink and green vinyl is weird for this album though) but it does seem to highlight the lo fi sonics more. Quite a bit of this sounds like it was recorded on low quality digital audio. Which is ofc a world away from his classic records. Now thinking it might be be best suited to mp3s.

*screams in WMA*