Product Description

"Unless you've tasted the bitter, you can't appreciate the sweet", says singer/songwriter Me'Shell Ndegeocello. BITTER,her third release for Maverick Records, finds the multi-talented artist pointing her career in new and bold directions.The new album touches points of faith, love, loyalty, beauty, and grace. Working with noted producer Craig Street, Ndegeocello welcomed a large host of guest musicians to contribute to the album including Wendy & Lisa, Ronnie Drayton, and Abe LaBoriel, Jr.
Notable tracks include "Satisfy" (with its sweet-sounding guitars and strings), "Sincerity", and "Beautiful", as well as the album's two instrumental tracks, "Adam" and "Eve". Also included is "May This Be Love", a lesser-known Jimi Hendrix song that Ndegeocello reworks into a charming arrangement, complete with Fender Rhodes piano and apsychedelic string section.

Track Listing

1. Adam
2. Fool Of Me
3. Faithful
4. Satisfy
5. Bitter
6. May This Be Love
7. Sincerity
8. Loyalty
9. Beautiful
10. Eve
11. Wasted Time
12. Grace

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #74580 in Music
• Released on: 1999-06-09
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
The angular, sensual funk-rock blend of Me'Shell Ndegeocello's 1996 Peace Beyond Passion here gives way to a hushed confessional mood that recalls classics by Joni Mitchell and Rosanne Cash. Ndegeocello puts her formidable bass skills far off to the side here--there's rarely even an electric guitar to be heard on these tracks--in favour of a mix often dominated by a small string section. Occasionally overripe, as on a cover of Hendrix's "May This Be Love", Bitter is nonetheless an intriguing take on one woman's love, confusion, and ultimately, hope. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Superb compulsary listening
This album just drags you in and covers you like a warm blanket. The song 'Beautiful' is just that....

Bitter sweet
Bofore buying this album, I had not heard any of Meshell's work - my decision to buy was based purely on reviews - however, I am so glad I did decide to do so. This CD is one I don't think I could live without. Despite being nearly five years since release, the tracks remain to sound modern and new. Meshell has a fantastice voice, and her lyrics are amongst some of the best I have ever heard - her tracks are all intelligent, honest, and some are painfully sad.
This album is certainly about the tragic side of love, the majority of the songs being about love gone wrong. However, despite this the album is not depressing! There are tracks which are truly beautiful for their simplicity ( e.g. "Beautiful )and there are tracks which portray the happier side to relationships ( e.g. "Satisfy" ).

I don't understand why Meshell's music has not taken off in England - this is a woman who has bags of talent. Perhaps it is because she does not shy away from being so honest - for example, in the track "Faithful", the lyrics include, "I believe my lies are truth / Why won't you eat what you are fed. . . No one is faithful I am weak / I go astray." To me, this shows fragility and what it is to be human - that emotions are never simple and some times people make bad decisions in relationships.

This is a fantastic album. If you enjoy soul music at all, I suggest you go out and get yourself a copy.

Bitter
What an incredible album. I've yet to plat this to someone who doesn't buy this album straight afterwards. Beautiful, heartfelt songs and melodies, incredible musicianship and immaculate, 'live' sounding production. A gem. If you own this, you know what I mean. If you don't, you should!