Music Review: Neneh Cherry – Homebrew

Neneh Cherry
Homebrew
Virgin Records
Release Date: October 26, 1992

Almost four years ago I convinced a music director to listen to Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance,” the song had been out for almost a month and had by some miracle been ignored. After a quick listen, the music director stated she would put the record into the stations’ rotation the following day. Those days are definitely gone because Neneh Cherry’s name is now synonymous with good music and no longer, does anyone need to be convinced to listen to her.

Sometimes I wonder if Prince took his latest musical direction of incorporating rap into his funky R&B tunes from Neneh Cherry. She blended Prince-like poetry into her first hit “Buffalo Stance” and in almost every song on her Raw Like Sushi album that highlighted her beautiful singing voice, a short rap or at least hip hop beats and scratches were also included. This trend continues on her long awaited follow up album, Homebrew.

“Somedays” is a melodic R&B groove in which Neneh’s sultry voice will seduce you with the help of a slow hip hop beat and scratch. In this song, Neneh laments that (“Somedays are better than somedays“), maybe that’s something that we already know, but the way that Neneh Cherry sings about this fact, the lyrics, and the fabulous piano track are three ways that make this one of Neneh Cherry’s best songs ever. “I Ain’t Gone Under Yet” is a jazz tinged rap with a funky back drop. In this tune, Neneh declares that she is strong enough to survive against the tough circumstances of life that often bring down an individual with low self esteem, (“I don’t steal, I don’t run tricks or scams/cause I’m a strong young woman/yes, I know who I am“). Although short on length (2:46), “Buddy X” is long on substance from the excellent production job by Jonny Dollar, Booga Bear and even Neneh Cherry herself. A sample of Juicy’s “Sugar Free” is used to great effect and Neneh’s singing is exemplary as usual.

Neneh Cherry has been one of my favorite rapper/singers since I heard her first single in 1989. Now after listening to her latest effort, Homebrew, my opinion of her has been tremendously reinforced.

More Neneh Cherry Music
Check out Neneh Cherry’s entire discography here.
Sample all 10 songs from Neneh Cherry’s Homebrew album here

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