Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2

1	Warm Up 1:19
2	I'm Not Afraid 3:25
3	Golden 3:51
4	The Fact Is (I Need You) 4:37
5	Spring Summer Feeling 4:49
6	Cross My Mind 4:44
7	Bedda at Home 4:22
8	Talk to Me 4:44
9	Family Reunion 5:12
10	Can't Explain (42nd Street Happenstance) 4:39
11	Whatever 4:26
12	Not Like Crazy 3:57
13	Nothing (Interlude) 1:31
14	Rasool 3:05
15	My Petition 4:11
16	I Keep/Still Here 8:45

Barnes & Noble

In 2000, the question Who Is Jill Scott? was posed to R&B fans via the title of a righteous Philly griot's promising debut. Four years later, with the release of Beautifully Human, a brilliantly woven tapestry of sage words and hypnotic rhythms, the answer is unmistakable: Scott is the long-awaited new goddess of soul. A rich cornucopia of poetry propped against a lush, piano-and-strings-infused backdrop, the 16-track disc is a powerful and often fragile tribute to Scott's humane perspective and fearless spirit. Beautifully Human takes listeners on a journey through her life, and there have been changes: Scott's vocal mastery has eclipsed the "spoken word" poet within her. Witness, for example, the soulful, empowering "Golden," the disc's buoyant single, which is closer to Chaka Khan than Maya Angelou. Jill's also taken a trip to the altar, and the tense, territorial girl of "Gettin' in the Way" has matured into monogamy's patron. Her hubby, who was courting Ms. Scott during her debut and inspired that disc's blissful moments, finds Scott boldly testifying her love, on "Bedda at Home." "I'm Not Afraid," shows that matrimony can be kinky, as she coos, "I'm not afraid to be your lady / I am not afraid to be your whore." She calls for a healing and renewal of faith among black men and women in "The Fact Is (I Need You)," sending her listeners on a new love high. In the end, Beautifully Human is a soul-satisfying listen and a magnificent return for this gifted artist. Tomika Anderson

Vibe

With Beautifully Human, Scott puts positivity into today's musical arena -- eschewing bitch-and-moan man bashing for compelling rhythms and all encompassing love songs that resonate in your soul. Letisha Marrero