1999 studio album by Meshell Ndegéocello
Bitter is the third album by Meshell Ndegeocello.[3] It was released on August 24, 1999, on Maverick Records. The album peaked at #105 on the Billboard Top 200 in 1999.[4] The album also peaked at number 13 on Billboard's Top Internet Albums chart and number 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."[11] The Chicago Tribune called it "one long bittersweet downer."[1] Vibe called Bitter the "Album of the Year."[12] 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."[13]
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)
Technical
- Craig Street – producer
- Dusty Wakeman – engineer (Mad Dog Studios, Burbank, California)
- S. Husky Höskulds – engineer for additional recordings (Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles, California)
- Tom Schick – engineer for additional recordings (Sear Sound, New York)
- Elijah Bradford, Rafael Serrano, Chris Ribando, Joseph Turner – second engineers
- Roger Moutenot – mixing (Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles)
- Joseph Turner – mixing assistant
- Greg Calbi – mastering (Sterling Sound, New York)
- Paul Thompson – production assistant
- Kai Morrison – project coordination
- Kevin Reagan – art direction, design
- Gail Swanlund – design
- Sheryl Nields – photography
References
- ^ a b Kot, Greg. "Meshell NdegeocelloBitter (Maverick)Instead of bringing the boho-flavored,..." Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 4, 1999 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "MeShell Ndegeocello". Billboard.
- ^ "Bitter - Meshell Ndegeocello | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Music Review: 'Bitter'". EW.com.
- ^ Nelson, Ivy (June 18, 2023). "Meshell Ndegeocello: Bitter Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Meshell". robertchristgau.com.
- ^ "Me'Shell Ndegeocello: Bitter : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". October 1, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-01.
- ^ "Reviews". Spin. October 29, 1999 – via Google Books.
- ^ 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.