Neneh Cherry
doesn't get into the studio nearly often enough. Three years passed before the British singer/rapper came out with a second album. Thankfully, she more than lived up to the tremendous promise of
Raw Like Sushi
on the equally magnificent and risk-taking
Homebrew
.
Cherry
shows no signs of the dreaded sophomore slump -- everything here is a gem. She triumphs with a seamless and unorthodox blend of hip-hop, R&B, dance music, and pop, and on
"Money Love"
and
"Trout,"
the presence of
R.E.M.
's
Michael Stipe
brings rock to the eclectic mix. As humorous as
can be, her reflections on relationships and social issues are often quite pointed. While
decries the evils of materialism, the moving
"I Ain't Gone Under Yet"
describes an inner-city woman's determination not to be brought down by the poverty and drugs that surround her. And
"Twisted"
is about keeping yourself sane in a world gone insane. Unfortunately,
wasn't the commercial breakthrough
was more than deserving of. ~ Alex Henderson