erykah badu

Erykah Badu has always been one to buck trends and create her own style, whether in her neo-soul music or audacious and colorful fashion choices. Her newest release, New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War, continues Badu's habit of defying expectations.

The album, Badu's first release in five years, is the initial volume in a two (or perhaps three)part series in which Badu attempts to "talk for my race and my planet." Taking one look at the album's cover creates similar hopes of passionate social commentary, as drawings of weapons, syringes and dollar signs all float above the singer's pensive head.

Unfortunately, Badu's work fails to make good on the promises of her album cover. Not only do most of her tracks seem uninspired and poorly produced, even her best songs fall short of the ardent and relevant discourse she had guaranteed. "Soldier," with its smooth, simple beat and perfect vocals, still remains too vague and broad to be taken as a serious treatise on life in America. Badu peripherally mentions "Iraqi fields," "falling towers" and "broken levees," simply condemning every controversial political situation without ever giving her own position or solution to The nation's problems.

Furthermore, some of Badu's work is just bubbly pop music-enjoyable, catchy music, but pop music nonetheless. The album's first single, "Honey", offers "daring and provocative" lyrics like "You're so sweet/All I gotta do is add a little lemon/You're my favorite drink/You make me think." In other words, this could easily be a Mariah Carey song (yes, I know Mariah Carey also has a song called "Honey").

By attempting to create an album that produces a serious dialogue about issues in this country, Badu becomes another example of an artist biting off more than she can chew. Be sure to appreciate New Amerykah for what it is--a nice soul album-and not for what it wants to be, a serious and critical approach to modern America.