ME'SHELL NDEGEOCELLO
COMFORT WOMAN (MAVERICK) 2003
V V V V V 1/2
Aww sookie sookie now!!!! I have to give a quick confession!
I truly feel that Meshell Ndegeocello is a severely under appreciated and incomparably talented "musical beast". She
is just bad to the bone!
So with that said, here's my opinion of her 5th album release called
"Comfort Woman". There is a saying that goes, "if it ain't broke , don't fix it", this disc represents that very statement.
One of the things I love about this artist is that no matter how many albums she releases, she manages to maintain the integrity
of her music. She changes her sound only enough to keep it fresh, but the change comes from her combining the original
ingredients in a different way.
In Comfort Woman, you hear influences from 3 of the preceding
4 albums, but at the same time it's not monotonous. She's a genius!!! Her songs "Love Song #1" and "Body" is reminiscent
of the Peace beyond Passion release, with it's subtle sensuality. "Love Song #2" and " Fellowship" have got the "Plantation
Lullabies" feel to it because of the "spacey reggae" sounds along with her suggestive lyrics not to mention the incredibly
sexy guitar riff at the end of LS#2. "Bitter" is represented with songs like " Andromeda & the Milky way" and " Liliquoi
Moon," being that they reflect a longing of love and incredibly beautiful vulnerability, not to mention another sexy as all
hell guitar solo at the end of "Liliquoi Moon."
My only complaint about this release is that I wish it was
a little longer, but I think that's more greed, on my part, than anything else. This album, overall, reflects a very
mature Meshell with the promise that she is still spicy and raw. She also promises and guarantees in "Comfort Woman" that
she still has the skills to show you what " Simulated Eroticism" sounds like. So after you get this disc, dim the lights
and hit repeat...it's gonna be a lingering yet pleasurable experience. You won't regret it. I didn't.
ANGEL B.
Review contributed by Angel Baker @ Angelic Promotions www.myspace.com/buttonsandjuice
