Baduism

First, I'd like to say that I absolutely love this album. As Erykah's debut record, it is as good as someone could ask for. I purchased the CD when it was first released years ago and have never tired of listening to the jazz inspired neo-soul grooves. The lyrics are reflective and intelligent and the music is smooth. However....I've recently bought the vinyl edition and was MAJORLY LET DOWN.First off...it is a digital reproduction and a poor one at that. The LP comes with no art work, just a blank black sleeve with a sticker on the front which would be fine for a 12" maxi-single designed for DJ's to spin at the club but this is a full album (well, kind of, but I'll get to that next) which is intended to be enjoyed on a home system. One of the joys of listening to vinyl at home is exploring the expansive art work and liner notes which this record is void of.Lastly...the vinyl edition is missing "Otherside of the Game" and "Drama" which are two my favorite tracks off the album! The jazzy studio version of "Certainly" (with the stand up bass and acoustic piano and drums) is also omitted with the 'flipped it' remix in it's place (a poor substitute with an electronic drum loop and repetitive sampled bass line). Also, "Next Lifetime" is the shortened radio edit and not the album version. Lastly, "Afro" and "Rimshot Outro" is also missing from the tracklist.The vinyl edition was a complete disappointment in every aspect possible. BOO!

I love Erykah badu and this album doesn't disappoint. It came beautifully packed up and once I took it out and put it in my record player it played smooth. This definitely is a must have if your a record collector and erykah fan.

Erykah Badu was one of the pioneers of 90's neo soul. "Baduizm", her ultra-cool 1997 debut album, was a huge success. It went triple platinum and won the Grammy for Best R&B Album. The single "On & On" earned for her the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Erykah wrote or co-wrote every song except "4 Leaf Clover". Her lead vocal talent is obvious after listening to a few seconds of the album, and she also contributed background vocals, keyboards and music programming. To me, what distinguishes the album's sound, other than Erykah's talent, is the minimalist production. The standout features which complement the vocals and keyboards are the strong, pronounced bass and the "stick" sound in place of a regular drumbeat. "On & On" uses the stick, which gives the sound a primitive edge, and so do most of the other tracks. The general sound of "On & On" pervades the album, and this is what makes the album as unique as it is. There are two slower tracks, "Other Side Of The Game" and "Next Lifetime"; and there is the funny, old-school bluesy, "Afro (Freestyle Skit)" to lighten things up a bit. There are 2 versions of "Certainly", track 8 and track 13. They are pretty similar. The main difference I notice is that track 8 features melodious piano, while track 13 features a different keyboard. Both versions are fine, and I prefer track 8 simply because I like piano so much.Many of the songs are about relationships, mostly concerning the difficulties therein. "4 Leaf Clover" shows ambivalence about love: "Catch a four leaf clover...Try and love might come your way...Like the way I am free/Going places, being things I wanna be/Settle down is oh so hard/But I will pray you get that one chance". "Next Lifetime" is about forbidden love: "Now what am I suppose to do/When I want you in my world...When I'm already someone's girl...Guess I'll see you next lifetime". Some relationships are just toxic: "Sometimes I don't love you anymore/Sometimes I'm in love with you/Sometimes I think that I'm going mad". Other songs touch on relationships but go further, incorporating ideas about life and social issues. "Certainly" is about independence: "Was not looking for no love affair/And now you wanna control me...When I wake up/I don't need nobody telling me the time". Likewise, "Appletree" celebrates individuality: "I don't walk around/Trying to be what I'm not...And if you don't want to be down with me/Then you don't want to be from my appletree". "Drama" tells of difficulties in modern life ("I can't believe/That we're still livin'...With all the problems of the day/How can we go on") and suggests a solution ("Lift up your hearts to God/Lift up your soul/Teach your children Wisdom"). "On & On" is a bit cryptic: "I'm feelin' high/My money's gone/I'm all alone...If your knowledge were your wealth/Then it would be well earned...You rush into destruction/Cause you don't have nothin' left/The mothership can't save you/So your a** is gon' get left".I feel that the minimal production and Erykah's voice, which is expressive and strong without being overpowering, blend well with the straightforward presentation of the ideas found in the lyrics, giving the album consistency and unity. I like the resulting philosophy of life: common sense and earthiness, laced with humor, hope and self-reliance. And I have to smile when I hear these lines from "On & On": "If we were made in His image/Then call us by our names/Most intellects do not believe in God/But the fear is just the same."

I love Erykah Badu. This girl has it goin' on.The vinyl copy of this album is not a complete copy of the Baduizm album!About the Vinyl version of Baduizm:Upon purchasing, I thought that I was purchasing a complete recording of the Baduizm album, (the Amazon listing says that there are 14 tracks... I do hope they ask vendors to change that information in the future...), instead I received a record with only 9 tracks. A few very key songs are not on this album, not to mention that the record included radio edits (not album versions).Though I prefer vinyl, had I known that the vinyl recording was different from the CD recording, I would have settled for the CD, this because I wanted all of the tracks as they were meant to be by Erykah Badu herself.

This review is for the 2-disc vinyl version.The material is an obvious 5. I'm incredibly impressed with the pressing. It's clean and sharp, and does a great job of reproducing the bass of the original material. Just a wonderful purchase.

Magnificent breakout album. Soulful from start to finish.

First Erykah Badu album I ever bought. I made a wise decision. I love it. I love her style of music. She's everything.

Love her funky soul in which Erykah delivered her lyrics. I feel Indie Arie and Amy Winehouse I feel was different but also similar from Ms. Badu.