Comfort Woman (album) explained

Comfort Woman
Type:studio
Artist:Me'shell Ndegeocello
Cover:Comfort_Woman_album_cover.jpg
Released:October 14, 2003
Genre:soul[1], reggae soul[2]
Label:Maverick
Producer:Me'shell Ndegeocello, Allen Cato
Prev Year:2002
Next Year:2005

Comfort Woman is the fifth solo album by the American singer-songwriter Me'shell Ndegeocello. It was released on October 14, 2003, on Maverick Records. The album peaked at No. 150 on the Billboard 200 list that year. It also peaked at No. 43 on Billboards R&B Album chart. It was Ndegeocello's final record released by Maverick.[3]

Composition

Musical style

Critics compared the album's "austere" style to that of Ndegeocello's third album, Bitter (1999).[4] Writing for Launch, critic Dan Leroy described the album as "spare, dub-influenced soul". Music journalist Jess Mayhugh termed the album's style "reggae soul". A review in Uncut called it Ndegeocello's Let's Get It On and noted the influence of both Ndegeocello's previous work and earlier Black musicians on the album.[5] The album also drew comparison to Imagination's Body Talk (1981).

"Come Smoke My Herb" and "Fellowship" include "reggae-infused sounds". "Body" features half-whispered vocals and keyboards similar to those of Stevie Wonder. Multiple critics compared the guitars on "Liliquoi Moon" to those of Prince. Uncut referred to "Love Song #3" as a "narcotised Prince ballad". "Good Intentions", which features few lyrics, incorporates funk influences and discusses Ndegeocello's devotion to someone.

Lyrics

In contrast to some of Ndegeocello's previous albums, the lyrics of Comfort Woman are generally apolitical, focusing instead on the subject of love.

Reception

Critical

Upon its release, Comfort Woman received generally favorable reviews from music critics. In the November 1, 2003, issue of Billboard, the album received a "Critics' Choice" designation, signifying a recent release "highly recommended because of (its) musical merit."[6]

Commercial

On the Billboard 200 chart dated November 1, 2003, Comfort Woman debuted and peaked at number 150.[7] That week, it also debuted on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at number 43.[8]

Track listing

  1. "Love Song, No. 1" (Me'shell Ndegeocello) – 4:03
  2. "Come Smoke My Herb" (Ndegeocello) – 3:53
  3. "Andromeda & the Milky Way" (Ndegeocello, Allen Cato) – 4:28
  4. "Love Song #2" (Ndegeocello) – 3:47
  5. "Body" (Ndegeocello) – 3:42
  6. "Liliquoi Moon" (Ndegeocello) – 4:41
  7. "Love Song #3" (Ndegeocello, Doyle Bramhall II) – 4:32
  8. "Fellowship" (Ndegeocello, Bob Marley) – 3:14
  9. "Good Intentions" (Ndegeocello, Chris Dave) – 3:48
  10. "Thankful" (Ndegeocello) – 3:25

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leroy . Dan . Album Review: Comfort Woman . Launch . Yahoo . November 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040703002225/http://launch.yahoo.com/read/album.asp?contentID=214894 . July 3, 2004 . October 16, 2003.
  2. Web site: Mayhugh . Jess . Meshell Ndegeocello Wants to Play . Baltimore Magazine . November 30, 2024 . June 3, 2014.
  3. Web site: Reyes-Kulkarni . Saby . Meshell Ndegeocello . Nashville Scene . November 30, 2024 . March 14, 2018.
  4. Web site: Mumbi Moody . Nekesa . Bauer . Scott . Kipp . Rachel . Reviews: Streisand’s ‘Movie Album’ uninspiring . Today . November 30, 2024 . October 14, 2003.
  5. Web site: Me’Shell Ndegeocello – Comfort Woman . Uncut . November 27, 2024 . January 1, 2004.
  6. Paoletta . Michael . November 1, 2003 . Billboard Picks: Comfort Woman . Billboard . 115 . 44 . 60 . 0006-2510 . November 27, 2024 . Google Books.
  7. November 1, 2003 . The Billboard 200 . Billboard . 115 . 44 . 88-89 . 0006-2510 . November 27, 2024 . Google Books.
  8. November 1, 2003 . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums . Billboard . 115 . 44 . 33 . 0006-2510 . November 27, 2024 . Google Books.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Comfort Woman (album)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.