Lauryn
Hill
MTV Unplugged 2
Release Date: May 7, 2002
Album Review by: : A-E Idowu
1. Intro
2. Mr. Intentional
3.
Adam Lives In Theory
4.
Interlude 1
5.
Oh Jerusalem 
6.
Interlude 2
7. Freedom Time
8.
Interlude 3
9.
I Find It Hard To Say (Rebel)
10. Just Like Water
11.
Interlude 4
12. Just Want You Around
13.
I Gotta Find Peace Of Mind
14. It’s Not Fair
15. Your Song (For You)
Disc 2
1. Interlude 5
2.
Mystery Of Iniquity
3. Interlude 6
4. I Get Out
5. Interlude 7
6. I Remember
7. So Much Things To Say
8. The Conquering Lion
9.
Outro
Lauryn Hill
Release
Date: May 7, 2002
After 4 years, the wait is finally over for Lauryn Hill's solo sophomore album, which is entitled MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. This is Lauryn Hill's first album of new music since she bowled over the music community with 1998's Grammy Award winning disc, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Recorded live last summer, the double CD is an unpolished collection of thirteen demos that captures Lauryn Hill's 2-hour soul wrenching performance. The CD is just Hill and her guitar, singing about life, and the lesson's she has learnt since leaving the spotlight. Personally, the album doesn't appeal to me or surpass her previous album.
Although the album is live and she has to entice the audience, she talks too much - at one point for twelve unedited minutes. She talks without reservation after nearly every song and it makes you feel like shouting, Lauryn, stop talking rubbish and get on with the song! I prefer more polished, studio produced music unless I am seeing the artist live, because the clapping and shouting from the audience irritates me, but there will be a smoother studio made version out later this year, which I would advise Lauryn Hill fans to wait and buy.
But although this album doesn't appeal to me, I do know that Lauryn Hill has God given talent. All the lyrics and music were written by Lauryn except for Never Forget (So Much Things to Say), which was written by Bob Marley and the traditional adaptation of Conquering the Lion.
Lauryn Hill was a founding member of the pioneering multi-platinum alternative rap trio The Fugees, and she has evolved from her supporting role to become one of the most respected solo performers, and this acoustic performance is a daring break for such a high profile artist. She makes blunders with her lyrics, and her vocals start off strong and provocative but noticeably become strained and weak through the set and she attempts to reach for notes that her voice can't handle and it ends up sounding wrong. If people didn't buy her album, I don't think Lauryn would be too bothered because she is all about promoting the message of being true to your self.
On a positive note, if you listen to the lyrics you will find that they are intelligent, intimate and honest and she doesn't care what the critics think she just wants people to hear her feelings through her soulful melodies. However, if you're looking for catchy songs that you can sing along or dance to, like Doo Wop (That Thing) from her last album, die-hard Lauryn Hill fans will be disappointed. It is clearly apparent in her music that Rastafarianism has had a deep impact on her life and she is trying to teach her beliefs through her music.
Stand out tracks include Oh Jerusalem and the half-rapped, half-sung track Mystery of Iniquity. Pure intimacy and raw emotion can be heard in I Gotta Find Peace of Mind and she open's her heart and expresses her love in I Remember. This album is more of a testimony than music and you should only buy it if you can handle two-hours of listening to Lauryn Hill's new approach.
Reviewer: Annika Allen
Overall Ratings
1.5 out of 5
Favourite
tracks :
2.
Mystery Of Iniquity (Disc 2)
5.
Oh Jerusalem
13.
I Gotta Find Peace Of Mind
Return to Latest Reviews or select review by artist or Soundtrack, A-Z.