[.ca] 3 Years 5 Months And 2 Days In

From Amazon.co.uk:
With their feel-good humanism, uniquely rural perspective, and melodic blend of funk and rap, Arrested Development seemed like the next big thing in 1992. The group hailed from Atlanta, which was not then a capital of hip-hop and R & B, and this, their debut recording, won the New York Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics poll. Speech, the primary lyricist, wrote and delivered eloquent attacks on gangsta rap's mindless nihilism: the band's first hit, "Tennessee", spoke of reclaiming Southern black traditions from the racism that sullied their memory, while their second, "People Everyday", deftly updated the Sly Stone classic. Although Speech's rapping style was not distinctive, Dionne Farris's keening vocals highlighted the band's front line. Unfortunately, Speech began to run short of ideas and the band failed to maintain the high standards that this debut set. They disbanded a few years later. --Martin Johnson

Chronique amazon.fr:
"Life Music" est le concept qu'inventent les six membres (dont Baba Oje, 60 ans) du collectif mixte d'Atlanta, dans le sud des Etats-Unis. Les instruments joués live et les samples tissent un hip-hop bucolique, doux, aux accents africains, en prise directe avec les éléments naturels et traversé de voix féminines. Si leur leader, Speech, chronique aussi bien les événements intimes, familiaux ("Tennessee"), que ses préoccupations religieuses et sociales, Arrested Development affiche une sérénité qui est aux antipodes du rap urbain. --Hector Fricotin

mr. wendell, a man, a human in flesh, but not by law:
This cd is worth the price alone for "Mr. Wendell" which is definately one of the best songs of the early 90's. back when there was mainstream music with meaning...

Keep Up Your Strength Now, Cause We Must Grow Somehow..:
This 1992 debut was both a blessing and a curse to Speech and his talented band of hip hop/boho Gypsies. While the music here hasn't aged a day in the last decade, the message of positivity, communal living, self esteem, self reliance and spiritual oneness has been so copied and diluted by lesser artists that "3 Years, 5 Months...." doesn't sound as revolutionary as it once did. Secondly, this LP was so popular and the band became so ubiquitous that the listening public quickly tired of them and missed out on a superior and brilliant followup (1994's "Zingalamaduni") and that is a terrible injustice. The standard set by this album has also made it nearly impossible for Speech to maintain a successful solo career, to most fans he will always just be "that guy from Arrested Development". These tracks are superb to be sure, my personal faves being; "Mama's Always On Stage"(furious drumming by Rasa Don and scratching from Headliner),"Raining Revolution"(great, closely mic'ed vocals from Speech and a creepy, otherworldly theremin on the choruses) and the stunning closer "Washed Away", far and away the greatest track in the group's recorded history. Though they would top themselves on their sophomore LP, the moment and the vibe that was captured here is probably gone forever, remembering this time in music and their career is sure sweet.

Compelling and inspirational:
This innovative album opens with Man's Final Frontier, a funky number with lots of scratching and samples. It is followed by the amazingly positive and life-affirming Mama's Always On Stage and People Everyday, black pride anthem and intelligent protest against violence. Mr Wendall is another gem of a song, about homelessness and recognising the dignity in others. It also has a most compelling arrangement and gripping vocals. Arrested Development highlights personal and social problems without sounding preachy. The jazzy Raining Revolution is a moving spiritual rap, and Fishin' 4 Religion is a critical look at organized religion. The energetic Give A Man A Fish deals with the music business whilst the bubbly uptempo U and the gentle, melodious Natural are about love and relationships. Dawn Of The Dreads has lots of pop appeal with its catchy sung parts alternating with the rap; Tennessee has soulful female vocals, and the album concludes on a high note with the spiritual poem Washed Away. What a great album, so original in sound and uplifting in spirit! It encompasses a stunning variety of styles in a set of highly accomplished songs.

Amazing!!:
I was in third grade when this lp came out but I remember watching Tennesee and Mr. Wendel on BET. They are truly talented and amzing. I love this album and the creativity.

---------:
There are no words to describe how much i liked this CD. Very nice stuff. This CD was beautiful. THe music is a breath of fresh air compared to "hip-hop" on mainstream today. Nice stuff, nice stuff. Get it! Thumbs up fo' sho'

• Man's Final Frontier
• Mama's Always on Stage
• People Everyday
• Blues Happy
• Mr. Wendal
• Children Play with Earth
• Raining Revolution
• Fishin' 4 Religion
• Give a Man a Fish
• U
• Eve of Reality
• Natural
• Dawn of the Dreads
• Tennessee
• Washed Away
• People Everyday \oMetamorphosis Mix\c