With all the naked sounding R&B, elevator jazz and overproduced soul music out there, this album is a left-field surprise. "Baduizm" has a clear-headed grip on R&B, jazz, funk and soul all at once. Only D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" album can contest with this one for best debut of the 90's. The album has a very slow, mellow vibe to it, with occasional punches of energy, like on the funky "Appletree." This is the type of music where you could relax with your lover, do the dishes, or cook dinner. It work..
Erykah Badu is a very gifted & talented singer, songwriter and actress. Her soothing blends of old-school jazz & soul influences create an amazing backdrop of seductive beats, and a distinctive vocal style. With a musical approach that contains highly mature lyrics, Badu scats her way through an album of masterpieces.
Erykah Badu's debut album is loaded with old school jazz and modern r&b that's as tighly woven as her famous mile-high headdress. "Badizum" is a classy, towering release; for me, it conjures up images of a Saturday evening at your local jazz club or a cool, sun-drenched Sunday morning. It gives off a calming, peaceful vibe, and it's a near-masterpiece that can't be likened to anything else. Badu's voice, often compared to the grittiness of Billie Holliday, is elegantly restrained; yet, it is its modesty ..
