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JILL SCOTT
The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3
Hidden Beach, 2007
8.0/10, Excellent [scale]

JILL SCOTT “The Real Thing”

Contributed by Brian Meredith on 12/4/07

Sexy soul songstress Jill Scott might have released the most ironic single of the year. The angry “Hate on Me” steps out of her smooth comfort zone and calls for a sentiment that is rarely associated with her persona. Although the lyrics seem to be directed at a single antagonist, Scott’s proclamation comes across powerfully to her whole audience. This is in a good way of course, as it’s difficult to hate on her. Few are as vocally talented as she is, and those who are rarely have the same lyrical knack for passionate and soulful music.

On the latest installment of her Words and Sounds collection, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, Jill continues to bring the same top notch neo-soul that her fans have gotten used to. She speaks. She raps. She sings. Whenever her voice is on the track, you can’t help but listen to what she’s got to say. This stand-out presence is not new, but what makes The Real Thing stand out from Scott’s previous studio releases is the general theme. Oozing with sex, love and R&B, you will be hard pressed to find a more intimate album this year. Fans of Scott will undoubtedly feel closer to her after listening to this album, but casual listeners might be turned off by her openness.

Highlighting Scott’s spoken word experience, “Epiphany” and “Crown Royal” are beautifully graphic. While the latter track is more rhythmic and subtle, nobody else could sing monotone verses behind an alarm-like pulsation and make it sexy. Scott confidently walks the line between eroticism and love throughout The Real Thing. Adding signature ballads like “All I” and “Wanna Be Loved” to her hotter sexual depictions harnesses a delicate balance. Although those tracks might be difficult for the pre-pubescent to grasp, they are relatable and soulful in the traditional Jill Scott sense.

“My Love” was chosen to follow up the uncharacteristic “Hate on Me” as the second single. Not at all like the JT club banger of the same name, Scott’s gorgeous chorus is the album’s essential sequence: “My love is deeper, tighter, sweeter, higher, flyy-er/ Didn’t you know this?/ Didn’t you notice?” You trust her too. But then again, who doesn’t feel this way? This personal connection seems to come natural to Scott, which is probably why her music has so much pull on the listener

Ms. Scott posed the question in her debut’s title, Who is Jill Scott? that she’s answered with each subsequent album. First with Beautifully Human, and now on The Real Thing, Scott is defining herself through her music. Here’s to hoping that this soulful songstress continues to reveal herself to the world for many more albums to come.