SOUNDS: On today's playlist

"The Sloganeer Paradise," by Meshell Ndegeocello (click song title to listen)
Just got her seventh album, "The World Has Made Me The Man of My Dreams," in the mail yesterday and have not stopped listening to it since. We've always been a fan of her punk-influenced blend of jazz, soul, R&B and spoken word. But at times, it felt a little derivative (the New Power Generationesque "God.Fear.Money"). Others, it felt like she was veering into soft jazz/quiet storm territory ("Come Smoke My Herb"). With this album and its fresh collage of drum patterns and pointed lyrics, though, you get the sense that she's producing a sound that's truly fresh and new. The above song (a live version) is good, but many on the album are even better (see "Article 3," and "Virgo").