Bitter (Meshell Ndegeocello album)
Bitter | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 24, 1999 | |||
Recorded | 1997–99 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 47:36 | |||
Label | Maverick[1] | |||
Producer | Craig Street[2] | |||
Meshell Ndegéocello chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | A[5] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | 5/10[7] |
Bitter is the third album by Meshell Ndegeocello.[8] It was released on August 24, 1999, on Maverick Records. The album peaked at #105 on the Billboard Top 200 in 1999.[9] The album also peaked at #13 on Billboard's Top Internet Albums chart and #40 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
Critical reception[]
Billboard called the album "a modern masterpiece," writing that it "shines for its sonic presence as well as its inherent musical quality."[2] The New York Times wrote that "its rhythms flow in circulatory patterns guided by Ms. Ndegeocello's bass playing; guitars, strings and her guarded vocals intertwine like brain waves."[10] The Chicago Tribune called it "one long bittersweet downer."[1] Vibe called Bitter the "Album of the Year."[11] The Hartford Courant wrote that "though Bitter attempts to explore ambitious life themes about loyalty, faith, love and beauty, it instead commits the mortal sin of dullness."[12]
Track listing[]
- "Adam" (Meshell Ndegéocello) – 2:24
- "Fool of Me" (Ndegéocello, Federico González Peña) – 3:30
- "Faithful" (Ndegéocello, David Gamson) – 4:46
- "Satisfy" (Ndegéocello, Peña) – 4:05
- "Bitter" (Ndegéocello) – 4:15
- "May This Be Love" (Jimi Hendrix) – 5:17
- "Sincerity" (Ndegéocello, Doyle Bramhall II) – 5:30
- "Loyalty" (Ndegéocello, Allen Cato) – 4:20
- "Beautiful" (Ndegéocello) – 2:44
- "Eve" (David Torn, Roger Moutenot) – 1:23
- "Wasted Time" (Ndegéocello) – 4:55
- "Grace" (Ndegéocello) – 4:27
Personnel[]
Musicians[]
(instruments are not stated in the booklet)
- Meshell Ndegéocello - vocals, electric bass, additional instruments
- Lisa Coleman - piano, keyboards
- Wendy Melvoin - guitar
- Chris Bruce - (guitar, bass?)
- Doyle Bramhall II - guitar
- Ronny Drayton - electric guitar
- Greg Leisz - pedal steel guitar (11 at least)
- David Torn - guitar
- Abraham Laboriel Jr. - drums, percussion
- Daniel Sadownick - percussion
- Biti Straug - background vocals
- Arif St. Michael - background vocals
- Joe Henry - vocals (11), (keyboards?)
- Sandra Park - violin
- Sharon Yamada - violin
- Robert Rinehart - viola
- Alan Stepansky - cello
- Steve Barber – string arrangements
Technical[]
- Craig Street – producer
- Dusty Wakeman – engineer (Mad Dog Studios, Burbank, Ca.)
- S. Husky Höskulds - engineer for additional recordings (Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles, Ca.)
- Tom Schick – engineer for additional recordings (Sear Sound, New York, N.Y.)
- Elijah Bradford, Rafael Serrano, Chris Ribando, Joseph Turner – second engineers
- Roger Moutenot – mixing (Sunset Sound Factory, L.A.)
- Joseph Turner – mixing assistant
- Greg Calbi – mastering (Sterling Sound, N.Y.)
- Paul Thompson – production assistant
- Kai Morrison – project coordination
- Kevin Reagan – art direction, design
- Gail Swanlund – design
- Sheryl Nields – photography
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Kot, Greg. "Meshell NdegeocelloBitter (Maverick)Instead of bringing the boho-flavored,..." chicagotribune.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 4, 1999 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Bitter - Meshell Ndegeocello | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Meshell". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ "Music Review: 'Bitter'". EW.com.
- ^ "Me'Shell Ndegeocello: Bitter : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". October 1, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-01.
- ^ "Reviews". SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. October 29, 1999 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "MeShell Ndegeocello". Billboard.
- ^ Powers, Ann (October 8, 1999). "Album of the Week (Published 1999)" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Revolutions". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. September 29, 1999 – via Google Books.
- ^ MCGARITY, NEAL. "BITTER -- ME'SHELL NDEGEOCELLO". courant.com.
- Meshell Ndegeocello albums
- 1999 albums
- Albums produced by Craig Street
- Maverick Records albums