The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (review)
Hi, Hey, Hello. ItzSonny and this is going to be a very special album review as the album I've listened to today...is now one of my favorite albums ever, this shit fucking slaps, holy shit. I knew of this album, I knew of its title as one of, if not "the greatest album ever created" and I knew a little about the Fugees growing up, yet I was truly not expecting this album to be that great that just after one listen I already own that shit on vinyl, this album is just incredible, yet let's not spoil the fun just yet, let's dive into what makes this worthy of its high praise, this masterful album known as "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill".
BACKGROUND
The ever-talented Ms. Lauryn Hill was known to the world as a member of the music act, the Fugees. In 1996, She met Rohan Marley and forming a relationship resulted in her being pregnant. The event and other parts of her life inspired her to record her own solo album. After a while of writers' block, touring, and album contributions, the pregnancy aided her in with renewing creativity.
“Every time I got hurt, every time I was disappointed, every time I learned, I just wrote a song.”
While inspired, she wrote over 30 SONGS (DAMN) in her studio. Many of the songs were based off turbulence in the Fugees and past love experiences. As she was due for birth, she made many music contributions such as working with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and among many other artists from the gospel, hip hop, and R&B scene, leaving it as influences that will lead her to "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill".
REVIEW
"Intro"
Well obviously from the title...it's not really a song in of itself, more-so of just a foundation as to what we're getting ourselves into this with this project and it does a fantastic job of setting up this LP with a nice instrumental and audio bit of seemingly an elementary school classroom surrounding that sets up the themes and aesthetics of this that can really intrigue anybody.
"Lost Ones"
A great kick off to the real streamline of songs on this record as it really hones in further on its foundation with the incredible wacky and funky instrumental that is damn captivating to the ears and is just a bop to really kick it to, with a really fun delivery from Hill that ultimate serves this as a really well-done diss track towards...a Fugees member (only in rumors) I don't know, I just like the music, as the lyrics portrayed here are clearly detailing a man who clearly made a mistake, assuming her as just another girl, only to...lose her. ("You may win some but you just lost one") and yah, it's just a really great neo soul diss track.
"Ex-Factor"
This one for sure has some of the best soul and hip hop tones fused into it with an incredibly well-done instrumental that is super captivating to listen to and really hits the right groove that really feels dreamy and sparkly, with an incredible vocal range from Hill, alongside playful backup vocals, it feels like an adult singing her childhood and some fantastic lyricism and the right kind of rhythm makes this truly wonderful.
"To Zion" (Ft. Carlos Santana)
This might be my favorite track as the way Hill uses Santana's powerful acoustic play and blends it seamlessly into the perfectly luscious melody and crisp as hell mix is just so damn good, blending the acoustic with its continuing gratifying hip hop fun production is incredible and makes this easily the most pop-based catchy and memorable song that makes you re-visit constantly, added in with the incredible audio bit exploring this album's concept of "love".
"Doo Wop (That Thing)"
Obviously, this is one of, if not, the highlight from this and yah, I can totally see why, it's even more of a distinct and catchy song that just grabs your eardrums and fills it with so much joy, with the incredible chorus, Hill's vocals, incredible sound, and also a greater diss to just men (big W, sorry, I don't care if I'm a dude) and it's just fun and filled with so much creativity, it has just so much energy, man. Also the last audio bit is not only a great feature to this experience, yet this one might be my favorite educational moment...as someone whose never experienced being loved :c (rip, any-who next song).
"Superstar"
Again, it still does a wonderful job of continuing the flow of this record with its hip hop amazement, yet this one feels more distinct as it feels very much in-line with its title "Superstar" in how the mix adds in sounds to the instrumental that feels celebrity-oozing with a sparkly and charismatic tone to it and an incredible straight rapping and rhythm range from Hill and a great story of her utilizing her role as a superstar as a weapon towards her distain of a man and man...she's such a boss.
"Final Hour"
This one continues the same concept of her stardom being used a tool, yet her just going off with her word-play and getting down with it in the more focused and tonal production and melody with a great guitar thrown in makes this a highlight, especially with her utilizing this as a warning of the "final hour" and wow, this woman can make MUSIC, my guys and gals.
"When It Hurts So Bad"
What I'm loving so far about this album is how you notice how the flow from track to track is very consistent and follows a similar fun and yet remains fun and is constantly making each song stand on its own, yet as we're reaching more and more into this project, this one especially showcases how we're getting much more moodier and adult, with her now instead of being a full-on boss, is being vulnerable with her pain of desiring for a man who has fooled her and now love...can truly be a bitch.
"I Used to Love Him" (Ft. Mary J. Blige)
This is a great continuation of the last track with it progressing it's narrative of how she used to love him and how she feels guilty of her actions, wishing for forgiveness, and reflecting on her pain and sorrow and it really hits home, though the melody doesn't fit with its writing, it still works because it enhances her creative emotions and that piano bit is so menacing, with it all focused on her and Mary J. Blige's incredible duo performance that makes this so gorgeous to listen to and hit home.
"Forgive Them Father"
I love this song...I love this song...I love this song, wow, like the way she's clearly so mature about her reflections and how she wishes for all these wicked men to be forgiven, understanding that everyone shares the same pain is something I don't see often in music or hell art alone, the will to understand no matter our wrongs, we all share the same pain and the music once again really hones on its ideas, exploring her creativity and music weirdness gold into enhancing her concepts in such a unique way.
"Every Ghetto, Every City"
We're getting back with the positive vibes with this one as this one is clear and simple, detailing Hill re-visiting her familiar streets and buildings and looking back fondly on her childhood days (we love some self-love) and how this one is way more goofy and wacky, yet still charming in its musical tone and her fun attitude and overall adult, yet inner-child soul breaking out just makes this such a track filled with wonder and cheer.
"Nothing Even Matters" (Ft. D'Angelo)
We get a really more proper rhythm & blues song here that is generally sweet and right in the soul influence, with a great back-and-forth from Hill and D'Angelo who greatly convey this mature narrative of how after a-while, things no longer matter and in those times is when love truly prospers with a great instrumental that greatly works off the sounds established so far from this LP and really lays out all of its ideas as we slowly close.
"Everything Is Everything"
This one continues the positive vibe as the penultimate song, giving all the right kind of positive vibes from Hill herself and yet that girl boss energy riff in the melody that feels ripped out of a reality tv show as the song details that things happen and to always be positive for a brighter future and better love, for yourself and from others and it generally hits home right in the feels as we arrive at the closer.
"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"
The perfect closer this album needed, no different from the perfect ending that is love within reality, the ending of her not finding "her perfect man"...but learning what true love is that is the answer in reality...loving yourself. At least that's what I took away from this as there are many themes across this LP from motherhood, spirituality, past relationships, and the list goes on and on...yet...it's all about self-love, learning that the ultimate power is loving yourself and getting through everything for the one person that is always with you...is you, with an incredibly clever piano, instrumental, production, and writing that ends this masterpiece not on a high note...yet, the right note.
"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" [HIDDEN TRACK]
So these next two aren't really the actual final songs of the album, more-so just a bunch of hidden tracks and the way I perceive them are like fun little side songs that either taking place during or before the album as if it takes place after...then that's pretty darn depressing since this one though is great with presenting Hill falling for a man whose too good to be true is sweet.
"Tell Him" [HIDDEN TRACK]
A great song that might be my favorite, for sure one of the best ones off here as it continues this story of her going to tell this man she loves him with the best instrumental thus far that is my kind of lucid and dreamy with great vocal mixing, and yah, two great sort-of bonus tracks.
CONCLUSION
This album...is worthy of its acclaim...why? It's so much more than just its incredibly addicting and gratifying production, endless influences of soul, R&B, hip hop, and neo soul or it's incredible vocals and deep writing from Lauryn Hill or anything else. This album is a musical experience that blends two narratives of our childhood years when life was so sweet and innocent and when we were learning about receiving love from someone else, juxtaposed to our time as an adult being fed the worst possible draining romantic experiences and reflecting on the truth...it all lies in the title "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". Her miseducation...was what love is and how in reality, we believe love to be when two people grow a bond and fall deeply in love, when in reality, the greatest love that too many don't have is the love within ourselves because the only connection we need is from ourselves. Growing up, even as a child, I always had the worst kinds of romantic experiences and to this day have become an aro-ace individual because of it...but not because I will never be loved...but because these past few months, I've learned the truth that someone has loved me this whole time and I'm finally embracing them...myself. This album was just a reminder and perhaps an awakening for some that the greatest love of all...is our own and only then can we truly be happy. Masterpiece. It's been Sonny and so long, farewell, and goodbye.
“And deep in my heart
The answer, it was in me
And I made up my mind
To define my own destiny”
