I’d like to start off thanking Simone from Cantab for coming down and performing some amazing poetry. It hardened the notion in my mind that she is one of the most erudite and invested people we have in the artform. I’m not just talking about being intelligently invested in her work but the good of us all in slam. It takes a whole village to raise a poem. Darn right!

I hate it when I bring up Bill Withers and someone asks me “Who is that?” the honest truth is that everyone who says they appreciate music should know. Just as I am originally came out in 1971 as Bill Withers debut album and I know exactly where to start describing it. The second song on this album is one of the rare perfect songs that exist in the universe. Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone is a song favor over any Beatles song every made. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like it, the lyrics are emotive but nonspecific enough to make anyone feel its about them, his voice is haunting and low…pained even. Rumors on the internet say he wrote this about his dog. I would love that.

To win a grammy for this song on your first album and then come back for your second and write LEAN ON ME is pretty astounding. Since soul focuses on love its easy for the subject matter to get bland, what Withers is able to do is create a wonderfully balanced album that addresses fatherhood(9.I’m Her Daddy) the passing of family(3.Grandma’s Hands) I’ve seen grown men cry while listening to Grandma’s hands, big scary men. If I could have any voice in the history of blues it would be Bill Withers. I’ve wanted it since I was a kid. He doesn’t have the versatility that Al Green has or the style that Marvin Gaye or Stevie Wonder had. He just seems like someone quiet and sad that you know very well.

He surprises you with content you don’t expect (12.Better Off Dead) the cover of Let it Be which is track 8 is fantastic. I love the first one but to hear it turned so naturally into a gospel song puts it up there with Al Greens cover of Pretty Woman(all time classic cover).

Some albums need to have a singular emotional theme to make them powerful, it pours all of the artists creative talent towards one idea or state of mind. Bill Withers is able to create an entire world of emotions and sometimes say nothing important but sound awesome doing it(6. Do it good)

I’ve listened to it so much and it still tricks me into thinking that these songs are about my life. Sweet Wanomi(track 4) was so powerful it answered my personal question of whether or not I am comfortable having children. Why?
I have no clue. That is the power of great music.

Still Bill was his second effort and is also a classic record everyone should own but some artists are cursed with an album they can never follow up. A space in time they create for themselves and can never match, its a problem so many other artists try their whole careers to have.