Me'Shell Ndegeocello

The sophomore LP from the limitlessly talented Ndegeocello continues to explore issues of identity and spirituality over a supple bed of punchy jazz licks and polished soul grooves. Thematically confrontational (sample title: "Laviticus: F*gg*t"), Passion tries to reconcile her spiritual yearnings with her weariness of religious zealotry. The thinking woman's R&B.

The first words Me'Shell Ndeg=E9Ocello utters on "Peace Beyond Passion" are,"Jesus cured
the blind man so that he could see the evils of the world."=46rom there, Ndeg=E9Ocello
thrusts us into a concept album whose protagonis=tis bloodied and bruised when we meet
her - but not broken. The overridingtheme is the battle between Christianity and the
individual, and the waythat battle shapes and misshapes community, family and s... More >