Bitter (Meshell Ndegeocello album) explained

Bitter
Type:	studio
Artist:	Meshell Ndegéocello
Cover:	Meshell Bitter album cover.jpg
Released:	August 24, 1999
Genre:	R&B neo soul
Length:	47:36
Label:	Maverick^[1]
Producer:	Craig Street^[2]
Prev Title:	Peace Beyond Passion
Prev Year:	1996
Next Year:	2002

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."^[5] The Chicago Tribune called it "one long bittersweet downer."^[1] Vibe called Bitter the "Album of the Year."^[6] 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."^[7]

Track listing

1. "Adam" (Meshell Ndegéocello) – 2:24
2. "Fool of Me" (Ndegéocello, Federico González Peña) – 3:30
3. "Faithful" (Ndegéocello, David Gamson) – 4:46
4. "Satisfy" (Ndegéocello, Peña) – 4:05
5. "Bitter" (Ndegéocello) – 4:15
6. "May This Be Love" (Jimi Hendrix) – 5:17
7. "Sincerity" (Ndegéocello, Doyle Bramhall II) – 5:30
8. "Loyalty" (Ndegéocello, Allen Cato) – 4:20
9. "Beautiful" (Ndegéocello) – 2:44
10. "Eve" (David Torn, Roger Moutenot) – 1:23
11. "Wasted Time" (Ndegéocello) – 4:55
12. "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)
• David Torn – guitar
• Abraham Laboriel Jr. – drums, percussion
• Daniel Sadownick – percussion
• Biti Straug – background vocals
• Arif St. Michael – background vocals
• Joe Henry – vocals (11)
• 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, 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

Notes and References

1. News: Meshell NdegeocelloBitter (Maverick)Instead of bringing the boho-flavored,.... Greg. Kot. Chicago Tribune.
2. Web site: Reviews & Previews. Billboard. September 4, 1999. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Google Books.
3. Web site: Meshell Ndegeocello | Biography & History. AllMusic.
4. Web site: MeShell Ndegeocello. Billboard.
5. Web site: Album of the Week (Published 1999). Ann. Powers. October 8, 1999. NYTimes.com.
6. Web site: Revolutions. Vibe. September 29, 1999. Vibe Media Group. Google Books.
7. Web site: BITTER -- ME'SHELL NDEGEOCELLO. NEAL. MCGARITY. courant.com.