In a mere 28 minutes, I'm New Here covers everything from drug addiction and a lightning paced environment ("New York Is Killing Me") to moments of renewal and peace, in music, singing and spoken word. On the title track, Scott-Heron is backed by just an acoustic guitar, and on Robert Johnson's "Me and the Devil" by a huge drum sound, to give you an idea of how unconventional this sounds.
"Running" turns a negative into a positive ("Running in the other direction, not for cover"), while his "Coming From a Broken Home," for those "determined to do more than just survive," is plaintive and moving, and I'm taken by his version of "I'll Take Care of You" (the Bobby Blue Bland classic penned by Brook Benton), where Scott-Heron appears to be just as ravaged as he is strong.
There's supposed to be limited edition supplement to I'm New Here that includes more music from the sessions and new versions of a couple of Gil Scott-Heron classics, but I
have a feeling that I may never hear it. Just finding time to really concentrate on music listening is tough enough.
So I like Scott-Heron's instructions for experiencing this great piece of work (an "investment" indeed--it's his first since 1994's Spirits) for the first time, even if I couldn't take him up on it. From the CD booklet:
"Listen to it for the first time under optimum conditions.
Not in your car or on a portable player through a headset.
Take it home.
Get rid of all distractions (even her or him).
Turn off your cell phone.
Turn off everything that rings or beeps or rattles or whistles.
Make yourself comfortable.
Play your CD.
Listen all the way through.
Think about what you got.
Think about who would appreciate this investment.
Decide if there is someone to share this with.
Turn it on again.
Enjoy yourself."
GS-H