|
|
Post by guest21 on Dec 2, 2012 8:36:41 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by guest21 on Dec 2, 2012 8:48:56 GMT 1
Wiltren - Dec 1, 2012
witter.com/RiahGmez/status/275133187531874304/photo/1
|
|
|
|
Post by guest21 on Dec 2, 2012 8:50:18 GMT 1
twitter.com/RiahGmez/status/275133187531874304/photo/1
|
|
|
|
Post by guest21 on Dec 2, 2012 19:27:11 GMT 1
|
|
masdo
Full Member
Posts: 264
|
Post by masdo on Dec 3, 2012 12:39:04 GMT 1
Published: Dec. 2, 2012 Updated: 4:26 p.m.
Nas shines, Lauryn Hill flickers at the WilternOne star’s strong opening set led only to a letdown from the event's erratic second act.
By RAMON GONZALES
With their Life Is Good/Black Rage Tour this season, Nas and Ms. Lauryn Hill (as she now prefers to be billed) have dotted the country with what is indeed a historic pairing. Yet the event’s reception has earned almost unanimously disappointing reviews.
Friday night the tandem hip-hop champions touched down in Los Angeles for the first half of a two-night engagement at the Wiltern, and while there’s always room to argue with critics, this time around they couldn’t have been more accurate.
When: Nov. 30
Nas delivered a set that asserted Queensbridge’s finest was actually the main draw tonight, only to segue into what quickly became a confusing, clustered performance from one of urban-soul’s most erratically powerful voices. Incomparable Ms. Hill may be, but this night that adjective took on a whole new meaning.
A staple among best-ever lists, Nas’ 1994 introduction Illmatic was instantly praised as a classic debut. Fluid, articulate and vivid from the very beginning, Nas’ ability to craft relevant street stories was anchored by cheese-free sincerity. Nearly two decades later and approaching 40, Mr. Jones here submitted a 90-minute coup of genuine but conventional hip-hop consistent with his catalog.
With live band in tow, the man sometimes known as Escobar made good on his battle cry to the capacity crowd: “We will never go pop, ever.” Songs from his latest studio offering, Life Is Good – including “Accident Murderers” and “Daughters” – resonated as intuitive testimonials, all quintessential Nas.
A surprise appearance from soulful Anthony Hamilton drew a massive response from the capacity crowd, the vocalist hitting the stage to drop a verse from his timeless “Comin’ from Where I’m From,” causing throngs to sway from side to side in unison. He and Nas then performed their recent collaboration, “World’s an Addiction.”
The second half of the set, which dove right into classics, provided one hit after another. “Got Urself a Gun” was cut with a break from Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg’s “Deep Cover,” no doubt a deliberate injection of West Coast groove from the NYC don. The Iron Butterfly-sampling “Hip Hop Is Dead” rang thunderous with a live band, only to be topped by “Made You Look,” which saw the return of the sway Hamilton incited earlier.
In what might have been the strongest track of the night, Nas performed the highly introspective “One Mic” with an ebb and flow that consumed the crowd, the dynamic transitioning from a capella rhymes to instrumental crescendos that might make Jonny Greenwood nod approval.
Before departing, Nas reminded the audience to “stay sucka free,” obviously practicing what he preaches. It was a resolutely strong performance that left palpable optimism about what Ms. Hill would bring next.
But it all quickly unraveled. After a pandering set of West Coast anthems from the tour’s hypeman/DJ – and ad nauseam references to her being “incomparable” – Hill turned unfiltered excitement into collective befuddlement.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the scene-shifting 1998 album that earned her a raft of top Grammys, remains her only solo studio effort, yet it still justifies her headlining over Nas. But these days, despite occasions when her comeback performances have worked (chiefly at Coachella and Rock the Bells), it’s as if her intention is to make her most recognizable songs virtually unidentifiable.
She launched with what should have been a closer-to-Fugees-style take on Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,” only to let scattered tempo changes and convoluted instrumentation turn a gem into an instant buzz-kill – a somber soul standard made into a suffocating cluster that wouldn’t allow vocal depth or sweep to shine through. With every contour of the song drawn out in finale fashion, it was more than seven minutes before the second song began. “Everything Is Everything” might have been a bit more recognizable, but it was no less difficult to stomach, particularly as post-midnight antics started to wane on much of the fading crowd.
By “Superstar” the direction of the evening was evident: Hill content to play conductor to her band and run with improvisational structure, rather than perform renditions of her best material that would justify the whole “incomparable” thing in the first place.
Her only redeeming moments seem to come when she has to ditch singing and rhyme instead. During those verses, the instrumental chaos was reeled in just enough for a discernible backbeat and a rhythmic cadence to aid the audience in regaining their two-step. Maybe she thinks that’s just too simple, though. She sure made those moments few and far between.
|
|
|
|
Post by guest21 on Dec 3, 2012 14:36:29 GMT 1
Rather than focus on a review from a critic that up until three weeks ago was reporting on city council meetings, I prefer to focus on comments from people like the following that responded to a previous malicious critic from the night before. I also focus on the hundreds of people posting on twitter and other areas about how AMAZING Ms Hill performed. I also focus on the thousands of people that continue to support Ms Hill by repeatedly buying tickets to her performances. Last but not least, I rely on my own eyes and ears. Keep walking Ms Hill. They are talking for a reason.
sherreesaperstein 1 day ago
Ms. Lauryn Hill was fabulous friday at the wiltern, and the people in the audience that left, were definitely Nas fans and not there to see her. Seeing her perform at such a high level of energy was amazing, especially for a mother of six. She said 'this is protest music, next level music'...meaning all that has an ear to hear, will hear.
ShareFlag1LikeReply
michelle.d.aguila 1 day ago
This is a terrible review of Lauryn Hill. Yes, her performance was erratic, but "fans" who left early were the real losers of the evening. What did people expect? That the Lauryn Hill from the early 90's is going to be the same Lauryn Hill they saw up on stage last night? That's not only wishful thinking, but incredibly offensive to the artist who was trying something new. Her voice sounded older and, I'll admit, somewhat rougher, but the lady can still rap and hold a tune. The reviewer completely failed to mention how she transitioned into more traditional performances towards the end and drove all of us in the first two front sections WILD. She is still a performer. Her performance of Black Rage was necessary. It would be nice if she could just perform the song without having to explain the lyrics, but I don't have much faith in the collective intelligence of the crowd last night, since cretins like you apparently only wanted, "meat." Did you even mention how she performed a purposefully exaggerated rendition of Black Rage (especially when she would perform the main lines to the tune of "these are a few of my favorite things") to highlight the irony of her lyrics that she later explained? Did you understand the purpose of that song and did you even think to feel grateful that you were hearing the thought process of an artist live? If you wanted a track by track rendition of the vocals without any extras added in, you should have taken your behind home and blasted "The Miseducation" on your loud speakers. All that matters to me is that I was able to see a legend perform, in ANY capacity, and was thoroughly moved. Jhene was the one who was actually receiving little love from the audience (you failed to mention the fact that people were getting restless by her third/fourth song, and the crowd wasn't all that moved when she performed a cover of "keep ya head up"). Foolish reviewer. Her performance was what it was. It wasn't a fugees performance at the Gibson in 1995. It's high time you take yourself out of your time machine and evaluate her performance within the context of the era that she's performing in.
|
|
|
|
Post by guest21 on Dec 3, 2012 14:39:17 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by guest21 on Dec 3, 2012 14:52:03 GMT 1
"Black Rage is founded on these kind of things..."
|
|
|
|
Post by guest21 on Dec 3, 2012 14:56:14 GMT 1
Forgot to mention the lady in this photo is Melody Ehsani. She designs a lot of the jewelry that Ms. Hill wears.  |
|
masdo
Full Member
Posts: 264
|
Post by masdo on Dec 3, 2012 15:47:33 GMT 1
The purpose of posting that review is based on the fact that there are always mixed reviews with regards to her shows. I have never been to any of her shows, but sometimes as true fans we need to be objective and hear both sides of the story. Sometimes some of her performances will be criticised based on what she is wearing and how aggressive she is towards her band. These things can be distracting for some people and this can make them fail to appreciate her artistry. I do not have a problem with her growth as an artist as i loved the way she used to remix her songs in earlier days it was soulful, pure and authentic. I wish she could go back to that format.
|
|
|
|
Post by sengun on Dec 3, 2012 16:08:10 GMT 1
Well u are not the only one who feels like that Masdo, which is why thousands of people who used this board no longer do. They moved on and probably still listen to the old stuff and reminisce. I expect the people who go 2 the shows and write reviews such as the one u posted also do the same. And finally I think it's time u did! She isn't gonna dress in the way u want, she isn't gonna sing the songs in the way u want and she isn't gonna style her makeup and hair in the way you want. And why should she? Unfortunately I haven't been able to attend one of her recent shows, but from the vids I seen those who did were able to whiteness something I consider to be phenomenal, some appreciated it and some didn't and I'm sure Ms Hill is aware of that, but frankly doesn't care because she knows she is worth every penny they spent on going 2 see her!
|
|
masdo
Full Member
Posts: 264
|
Post by masdo on Dec 3, 2012 18:48:14 GMT 1
@ senguin the not caring attitude she has can be detrimental to her comeback, including her image sometimes. When i look at her live performances in 1999 she was so relaxed and so natural, which is something i do not see in her current performances. With regards to her image, one thing for sure no one wants to see her in very *friendly* person attires or blond wigs, she is a natural beauty so i guess does not need to go that route she has so much potential but i guess she does not believe in her beauty. She is too talented to be not creating music and releasing albums and too intelligent to be sitting at home not utilising the gift that God gave her, this woman could be writing books and doing other productive things. I am so rooting for her comeback and i am too tired of the criticism i just want her to outshine her cynics. Sometimes i just wish her team could just reevaluate the way she does things, i am saying this not in a bad way.
|
|
|
|
Post by iftheyonlyknewlove on Dec 3, 2012 19:24:09 GMT 1
Masado i know you want the best for Lauryn but what you think is best for Lauryn and what she think is best for her are too very different things. It is almost like you are living in the past, you are so obsessed with her image. I for one love what she is doing right now and except the fact that she does not sound the way she did. Her voice, her band, musicality has grown so much from the past two years that she has been touring. I think she is finding her niche. I don't want to conform her.
|
|
|
|
Post by sengun on Dec 3, 2012 19:37:51 GMT 1
masdo What comeback? She has been touring straight for over 2 years! Her expression is through her shows. I also would like to hear some recordings, but I have accepted it might not happen. She likes to give her songs in the moment I think her artistry is totally in the live shows at the moment. And the sitting at home comment, u really think she sits at home all day? I'm guessing she never stops
|
|
|
|
Post by Nutzz on Dec 3, 2012 19:38:57 GMT 1
Personaly, (because we're speaking about her style) I'm very happy that Hill chose not to look like Beyonce (or even worse, lady gaga OÔ) . She's herself! That's what we have to tend to : to be ourselves (Or maybe to be what we want to be.... ) and not to conform ourselves to the norme. She simply fits with what she preaches ....
Well, even if I'm happy with her style, comeback, new song etc... I'm still waitin' for new records!!!!! That's what I'm looking for!
|
|
