Is Weather a good place to start with Meshell Ndegeocello?

Yes, Weather is recommended as a starting point for new Meshell Ndegeocello listeners. A fluid blend of jazz, soul, and hip-hop that captures a reflective yet restless mood throughout its brief runtime. Released in 2011, Weather was Meshell Ndegeocello's seventh studio album and followed her critically acclaimed album, Devil's Halo. At this point in her career, she was exploring more intimate and personal themes after establishing herself as a versatile artist blending genres from go-go to jazz. This album further solidified her reputation for pushing musical boundaries while maintaining lyrical depth.

Weather works well if you're into wave-like pacing with peaks, introspective moments of reflection and dynamic journey through emotions.

How many songs are on Weather?

Weather has 13 tracks, running approximately 47 minutes.

Weather

Meshell Ndegeocello · 2011

47 min · 13 tracks · hip-hop

A fluid blend of jazz, soul, and hip-hop that captures a reflective yet restless mood throughout its brief runtime.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Weather Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of change and introspection through its sparse arrangement and haunting vocal delivery, setting the tone for the project.
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Chelsea Hotel — This cover of Leonard Cohen's classic transforms the narrative into a deeply personal exploration of longing, showcasing Ndegeocello's unique interpretive style.
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Don’t Take My Kindness for Weakness — This track features a compelling mix of assertive lyrics and layered instrumentation, illustrating the balance between vulnerability and strength that runs throughout the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

Weather combines intricate songwriting with a unique sound, making it a standout in Ndegeocello's discography.

What we noticed

The album opens with a title track that features layered instrumentation, gradually building in complexity over its duration.
Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements, blending them seamlessly with melodic sections to enhance the lyrical themes.
The last three tracks feature a notable drop in tempo, creating a reflective atmosphere that contrasts with the earlier, more energetic pieces.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

wave-like pacing with peaks
introspective moments of reflection
dynamic journey through emotions
evocative storytelling in sound

Maybe skip if you

prefer straightforward song structures
want constant high energy

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — Showcases Ndegeocello's introspective songwriting and innovative sound, noted for critical acclaim.
Themes: intimate reflections· Chelsea Hotel longing· weathering change
Career context: Released in 2011, Weather was Meshell Ndegeocello's seventh studio album and followed her critically acclaimed album, Devil's Halo. At this point in her career, she was exploring more intimate and personal themes after establishing herself as a versatile artist blending genres from go-go to jazz. This album further solidified her reputation for pushing musical boundaries while maintaining lyrical depth.
Stylistic neighbors: Erykah Badu· Lauryn Hill· Robert Glasper

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Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Don’t Take My Kindness for Weakness

The lyrics shift from gentle contemplation to a stark declaration of personal boundaries, contrasting softness with strength.

The juxtaposition highlights the complexity of emotional resilience, emphasizing that kindness should not be mistaken for fragility.