''When the Poems Do What They Do'' is the debut
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
by American poet
Aja Monet
Aja Monet (/ adʒa moʊˈneɪ/ Ah-Zjhah Mow-nay), (sometimes stylized in all lowercase), is an American contemporary poet, writer, lyricist and activist based in Los Angeles, California.
Early life
Monet began writing poetry at age 8, due to ...
, released by drink sum wtr on June 9, 2023. The album has received positive reviews from critics.
Reception
In ''
Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'', Tom Beedham called this album "a roadmap to somewhere greater" and states that the work has "emotional import
ndmechanical industry".
At ''
Okayplayer
Okayplayer is an online hip-hop and alternative music website and community, described by ''Rolling Stone'' as a "tastemaker" and "an antidote to dull promotional Web sites used by most artists".
The community was founded by The Roots' drummer ...
'', Nereya Otieno compares this release to a
weighted blanket
A weighted blanket is a heavy blanket that is used to aid sleep and reduce anxiety. Initially, weighted blankets were most commonly used as therapeutic tools to assist individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), dementia, and mental health ...
and praises the storytelling of the songs as well as the musicianship.
Marcus J. Moore of ''
The New York Times'' compares this release to the
spoken word scene of the 1990s and characterizes it as "a nuanced exploration of Blackness".
's Sheldon Pearce considers this a "wondrous debut album" that is "gorgeously meditative and potently groovy".
Writing for
Pitchfork Media, Mary Retta scored this album a 7.4 out of 10 for having "a profound and forceful clarity" and that the backing of veteran jazz musicians adds to the "gravitas and wonder" of Monet's poetry.
Staff at
KCRW
KCRW (89.9 MHz FM) is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, where the station is licensed. KCRW airs original news and music programming in addition to programm ...
listed this the 17th best album of 2023.
Graham Reid of ''
The New Zealand Herald'' included this in his favorite albums of 2023.
Track listing
All songs written by
Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, Weedie Braimah, Luques Curtis, Marcus Gilmore,
Aja Monet
Aja Monet (/ adʒa moʊˈneɪ/ Ah-Zjhah Mow-nay), (sometimes stylized in all lowercase), is an American contemporary poet, writer, lyricist and activist based in Los Angeles, California.
Early life
Monet began writing poetry at age 8, due to ...
,
Elena Pinderhughes, and Samora Pinderhughes.
#"i am" – 3:48
#"why my love?" – 4:37
#"black joy" – 6:17
#"unhurt" – 6:36
#"weathering" – 5:42
#"the perfect storm" – 8:03
#"the devil you know" – 9:59
#"what makes you feel loved?" – 2:31
#"for sonia" – 7:05
#"yemaya" – 12:39
#"castaway" – 4:34
#"give thanks" – 6:29
#"for the kids who live" – 4:56
Personnel
*
Aja Monet
Aja Monet (/ adʒa moʊˈneɪ/ Ah-Zjhah Mow-nay), (sometimes stylized in all lowercase), is an American contemporary poet, writer, lyricist and activist based in Los Angeles, California.
Early life
Monet began writing poetry at age 8, due to ...
– vocals,
production,
executive production
*
Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah – bow, trumpet, production
*Paul Blakemore –
mastering
*Weedie Braimah – percussion (including
djembe
A djembe or jembe ( ; from Maninka language, Malinke ''jembe'' , N'Ko script, N'Ko: ) is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa.
According to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the djembe ...
)
*Luques Curtis – bass guitar
*Def Sound – assistant production
*Delphine Diallo – cover photography
*Marcus Gilmore – drums
*Rob Lewis – vinyl design
*Brodie Means – assistant
engineering
*
Elena Pinderhughes – flute
*Samora Pinderhughes – piano
*Dave Weingarten – engineering,
mixing
See also
*
List of 2023 albums
The following is a list of albums, EPs, and mixtapes released in or scheduled for release in 2023. These albums are (1) original, i.e. excluding reissues, remasters, and compilations of previously released recordings, and (2) notable
No ...
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
2023 debut albums
Aja Monet albums