Another star of the so called nu soul movement releases a live album (just like Maxwell, Erykah Badu, N'Dambi). And like N'Dambi Jill Scott brings us a two CD set, full of live versions of songs from Who Is Jill Scott and new studio tracks. And yes, it's really worth buying it. But only if you pay attention in the record shop that you really get two different CDs because nearly all US-import CDs of Experience at my local record dealer and his wholesaler consists of a CD-set of the second CD. But, finally, I got the first CD too.
We all know the songs on the first CD like A Long Walk, Love Rain, Slowly Surely or Gettin' In The Way. This time we get a longer live version and if you like to listen to live versions with it's obligatory talks to the audience you'll love it.
But what's more important is the quality of the new songs on the second CD. Having made such an impact with her debut album it's the question can Jill keep up with the achieved level? Well, she can!
Even with 4Hero she sounds good on Gotta Get Up (Another Day) (it's reported that this version should be different from the original 4Hero album cut...but since I don't know their album I can't judge this). One Time features the vocal talents of Eric Roberson and was previous featured on a soundtrack (that was so bad except for this song that I forgot the name). Sweet Justice would've fit perfectly to the songs on her debut. Thickness is another live song, High Post Brotha (ft. Common) is nothing for me because of it's hip hop influences. Gimme sees Jill in more funny, funky and uptempo mood, Be Ready is ok but really not very special.
And then there are 2 bonus tracks, another version of Gotta Get Up (could this be the original version of 4Hero?) and a house version of He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat) but whoever transfered this from vinyl to CD should have bought a new release because it crackles far too much...strange because my vinyl copy of this song sounds much better.
Maybe this is really only a release for the Jill Scott fans out there.