From: owner-god-shiva-digest@smoe.org (god-shiva-digest) To: god-shiva-digest@smoe.org Subject: god-shiva-digest V2 #42 Reply-To: god-shiva@smoe.org Sender: owner-god-shiva-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-god-shiva-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk god-shiva-digest Friday, July 23 1999 Volume 02 : Number 042 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Fwd: MeShell review [Lisa Wente ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 09:55:26 -0400 From: Lisa Wente Subject: Fwd: MeShell review hey, check out this great review! i haven't found it on the trace magazine site, but i'm still looking...as i wait on the edge of my seat for august 24th... lisa * * * * * Subject: Trace Magazine give Me'shell 9 out of 10 MeShell Ndegeocello Bitter Maverick 9 out of 10 Some records get one week in the crib rotation, some get home, car and discman rotation, some get booty calls only rotation, and most get four tracks and then take it out to collect dust rotation. Over the years there have only been a few records that get decade long rotation,intergenerational rotation, soul rotation-- MeShell Ndegeocello's Bitter will be one of these. With multi-textured original compositions, lavish string arrangements, uncommonly sincere vocals and the simple but obviously complex theme of love, Ndegeocello has woven together a masterpiece reminiscent of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club, Innervisions and Around the World in a Day. Such praise usually only highlights the mediocrity that popular culture has embraced, but Meshell's third release stands on its own merit, making me wonder, "Who is this woman and where has she been?" There is an innocence, secret wisdom, and untainted artistry that guides Bitter and separates it from the banal categorization of radio formatting. And herein lies its strength: this is a coherent record that explores all different shades of love through poetry and genre-less song, not a cacophonous collection of singles, each starving for the Top 40 appeal that might eventually land a television commercial deal. The honest, searching quality in Meshell's work let's you know she believes she can fly without going out like that. While other artists position themselves atop some moral hierarchy, in "Faithful" Meshell sweetly relates, "No one is faithful, I am weak, I'll go astray, forgive me for my ways." In the title track Wendy Melvoin lays appropriately tender acoustic guitar while Meshell's higher range realizes, "My apologies fall on your deaf ears and now your eyes look at me bitterly." At the center of the album stands the gorgeous "Sincerity" in which Meshell flexes her muscles as a composer, supplying a jazzy score to some poor sucker's unrequited love story. On this track Meshell juxtaposes the angelic falsetto of Doyle Bramhall with her own more bassy vocals while on "Wasted Time" she utilizes the discordant accompaniment of Joe Henry to create two of the more innovative duets in recent memory. "Grace" and "Loyalty" swing with an easy soul/country feel, reminding the listener that all this love stuff can actually be worth the pain. A Prince-like instrumentalist, Meshell's first two releases, Plantation Lullabies <1993> and Peace Beyond Passion <1996>, basically featured her doing her own funky thing, playing the hell out of the bass, and co-producing most tracks. With Bitter she shifts gears, makes a very mellow record and does what most super talented artists can't -- she checks her ego, allows other musicians the space to contribute, and relinquishes the producer reigns to Craig Street, master of eclectic excellence. But perhaps the greatest testimony to Bitter is that it makes you want to go out and fall in love just so you can feel the full range of emotions Meshell has so beautifully painted. KT ------------------------------ End of god-shiva-digest V2 #42 ******************************