We’re New Again (A Reimagining By Makaya McCraven)

– General Description: Gil Scott-Heron was a writer, poet, and singer most famous for the song “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. The original album “I’m New Here” (2010) was built from fragments under the direction of Richard Russell.
“This is Richard’s CD. My only knowledge when I got to the studio was how he seemed to have wanted this for a long time. You’re in a position to have somebody do something that they really want to do, and it was not something that would hurt me or damage me—why not? All the dreams you show up in are not your own.” (Scott-Heron to Alec Wilkinson in The New Yorker, Aug 2, 2010)

The primary focus of these sessions included: living in fear, the image of home, mortality, the power of familial love.

This album, “We’re New Again”, has Chicago drummer and producer Makaya McCraven reworking this material with his own arrangements, which shift between dirty blues, spiritual jazz, and free-form drumming; every piece skillfully fits together. If you can, listen straight through. Worth it.

– FCC Compliant: MOSTLY
– Recommended Tracks: 3, 5, 11, 18
– Track Reviews:

1. (0:43) Special Tribute (Broken Home pt. 1) - spoken intro
2. (4:14) I’m New Here - chorus and spoken; mellow
3. ***(2:05) Running - spoken word; walking tempo
4. (1:10) Blessed Parents - interesting jazz riffing
5. ***(5:20) New York Is Killing Me - smooth and wild
6. (1:17) The Patch (Broken Home pt. 2) - spoken word
7. (2:55) People of the Light - moving
8. (0:15) Being Blessed - spoken word
9. (2:38) Where Did the Night Go - FCC WARNING “fuck” (?)
10. (1:06) Lily Scott (Broken Home pt. 3) - spoken word
11. ***(3:26) I’ll Take Care Of You - mellow love promise
12. (0:36) I’ve Been Me (Interlude) - spoken word
13. (1:30) This Can’t Be Real - smooth little piece
14. (0:37) Piano Player - spoken word
15. (2:34) The Crutch - fuzzy working-piece
16. (1:58) Guided (Broken Home pt. 4) - FCC WARNING (?) “hell”; spoken word
17. (0:14) Certain Things - spoken word
18. ***(4:48) Me And The Devil - very nice blues piece