Bitter
Meshell Ndegeocello
Meshell Ndegeocello's last name is Swahili for "free like a bird" -- which perfectly captures the wide-ranging mood of her bold third album. Working closely with cutting-edge producer Craig Street (k.d. lang, Cassandra Wilson), the singer explores all sorts of mellow styles and headphone-friendly textures, from the futuristic world music of "Eve" and the ambient country-industrial-jazz of "Wasted Time" to the cello-and-violin interludes that show up in several songs. "Wild Night" this isn't. But while "Bitter" can be a hard pill to swallow at times, the singer keeps the self-consciously arty moments in check. For all its genre-bending, the CD's best moments come in such simple pleas for love as "Loyalty" and "Grace." Wrapping her dusky, understated voice around these ballads, Ndegeocello reminds you of Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson in their prime. While she sang about racism and homophobia on past albums, this time out she delivers an epic poem about infidelity, betrayal and dead-end relationships. The lyrics of "Bitter" are seldom sweet, but her sultry music usually hits the spot.
Twisted Desire
8 1/2 Souvenirs
Recalling Django Reinhardt and Paolo Conte, 8 1/2 Souvenirs of Austin, Tex., distinguish themselves from the swing movement with influences less Dixieland than those of the Squirrel Nut Zippers. "Twisted Desire," their third disc and second full album to feature singer Chrysta Bell, begins with a lounge revision of ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man," which proves the lyrics of this '80s rocker ("Clean shirt/new shoes/he don't know where he is going to") are just as applicable to the '90s swing set. Accented by horns and strings, the band sounds more like Harry Connick Jr. than the Brian Setzer Orchestra, partly due to new pianist Justin Sherburn, who lacks the flair of his classically trained predecessor, Glover Gill (who now leads Austin's fine tango group, Tosca). Gill's playing was one of 8 1/2 Souvenirs' signatures, and his departure removes much of the group's punch, making them initially unrecognizable. Their version of Walter Hyatt's "Lonely in Love" spotlights Bell's breathy, lilting voice, but pales in comparison to Lyle Lovett's cover on "Step Inside This House." Highlights are the songs written by band founder, guitarist and vocalist Olivier Giraud. Unfortunately, "Life Style," "Under Your Skin" and "Yes, Yes, Yes," are stacked toward the end of the album. This is not the band's strongest release, but at least its evolution relies on more than merely recycling the past.
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