Sleep in the Middle - Blu Cantrell, Crawford, Shep
Unhappy - Blu Cantrell, Burks, Ebony
Impatient - Blu Cantrell, Bell, Michelle
Breathe [Rap Version] - Blu Cantrell, Aznavour, Charles
Risk It All - Blu Cantrell, Cofield, Charmelle
Don't Wanna Say Goodbye - Blu Cantrell, Butler, Mischke
Happily Ever After - Blu Cantrell, Hill, Loren
Holding on to Love - Blu Cantrell, Cantrell, Blu
Let Her Go - Blu Cantrell, Cantrell, Blu
Make Me Wanna Scream - Blu Cantrell, Burruss, Kandi
No Place Like Home - Blu Cantrell, City, Mike
Despite living in a generation of R&B females overshadowed by the indomitable Mary J. Blige, Blu Cantrell can hang. Blessed not only with a strong voice, but a jazzy style that comes across more subtly on this, her sop... more »homore effort, than on 2001?s So Blu. Bittersweet finds her teamed at various points with a handful of hot producers, ubiquitous dancehall artist Sean Paul, and some predictable lyrics, but nonetheless showcases a supple vocalist with her own mind. At the same time, Cantrell recalls some of the best of her influences on the Stevie Wonder-like "No Place Like Home" and "Happily Ever After," which would?ve fit in on any number of Prince records. If Cantrell continues to get the attention she deserves, she may well prove to be an artist we?ll be following for decades. --Rickey Wright« less
Despite living in a generation of R&B females overshadowed by the indomitable Mary J. Blige, Blu Cantrell can hang. Blessed not only with a strong voice, but a jazzy style that comes across more subtly on this, her sophomore effort, than on 2001?s So Blu. Bittersweet finds her teamed at various points with a handful of hot producers, ubiquitous dancehall artist Sean Paul, and some predictable lyrics, but nonetheless showcases a supple vocalist with her own mind. At the same time, Cantrell recalls some of the best of her influences on the Stevie Wonder-like "No Place Like Home" and "Happily Ever After," which would?ve fit in on any number of Prince records. If Cantrell continues to get the attention she deserves, she may well prove to be an artist we?ll be following for decades. --Rickey Wright
"Bittersweet is one of the most interesting albums I have heard this year from an RnB artist. Mainly because of Blu Cantrell's origional, sexy voice. She has an edge, a broken heart and also a new found love that you can here in songs like "Risk it All." It's bitter, it's sweet, but most of all, it is filled with great songs that you are sure to enjoy. Here is my song by song rating ot the album:1. I Love You (8/10)
2. Sleep in the Middle (12/10)
3. Unhappy (9/10)
4. Impatient (10/10)
5. Breathe (10/)
6. Risk it All (8/10)
7. Don't Wanna Say Goodbye (12/10)
8. Happily Ever After (9/10)
9. Holding On To Love (9/10)
10. Let Her Go (10/10)
11. Make Me Wanna Scream (10/10)
12. No Place Like Home (9/10)Overall, Blu Cantrell's sophomore album, "Bittersweet," is a great buy that you should make no hesitation about getting. You'll enjoy her album from beginning to end."
Bitter And Better
Joseph | Georgia | 10/09/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I was a little reluctant when it came to buying this CD, because when I walked into Best Buy, I had no intentions at all when it came to getting this. I liked her first single "Breathe", and I already liked her as a singer anyway, so I just decided "Oh What the Hell" and bought it.. I was pretty impressed, and glad I had second thoughts about it. Here's my rundown on the tracklisting.I Love You» This is a nice opener for the album. It's a very positive song about love, and it's also a very true song. Her vocals fit the beat just right. [9/10]Sleep In The Middle» This album is definately a standout track. It's the second single from the album, and I definately think it would be a nice little hit if enough money would be put into a video for it. It's a very seductive ballad, speaking of heartbreak. Definately one of my favorite tracks. [9.5/10]Unhappy» This song's lyrics and Blu Cantrell's vocals save this song from being TOTALLY mediocre. The beat is very slow, the vocals very mellow, and it's a sad little track, but it is actually pulled off very nicely. [8/10]Impatient (featuring Fat Joe & Lil Kim)» Some people out there might actually be a fan of this one, but I just can't stand it. The beat just doesn't work out right with the lyrics, and everything just seems so wrong. I could have definately done without this track.. It's not her style, and Lil Kim and Fat Joe's rap don't help out one bit. [4/10]Breathe (featuring Sean Paul)» This was the first single for the album, but it originally featured Lady Saw when it was first released as a single. Things were changed a little bit before the album's release, since noone was really reacting to the original mix at all.. it never even received airplay, and I guess they figured since Sean Paul has become internationally popular, people would fall in love with the song.. but that still didn't work out a bit. I prefer the original version with Lady Saw, but both are decent. It samples an old Dr. Dre song, and it's pulled off pretty nicely. [8/10]Risk It All» This one is my personal favorite.. The vocals and the beat just flow along with eachother so well. This is a great ballad, and I even think this one would go over well with the fans if this one were to be released as another single. Another definite highlight of the CD. [10/10]Don't Wanna Say Goodbye» At the very beginning this one sounds like it has a very gorey, and a very negative beat (if that makes sense).. it just doesn't sound like anything Blu has done. However, the song turns out very nice, and is done to a pretty nice beat. It's another sad ballad, dont very nicely. [8.5/10]Happily Ever After» This used to be one of my favorite tracks.. very nice beat, and great bluesy vocals. However, I can't say much for the lyrics on this one. (Happily ever after/Let's start a story chapter).. But it's still a great listen. [7.5/10]Holding On To Love» This one is a pretty fun track. I'm loving the very original beat on this one, and her voice sounds a little different on this one, compared to the other tracks on the album. I really think it's nice, and very radio-friendly. [9/10]Let Her Go» I really LOVE the beat to this one. Just the beat alone would make me say that this is probably my second favorite, beside "Risk It All". However, this song flows nicely to the beat, with a nice concept, and it sounds very attitude-packed. Yet another highlight. [9.5/10]Make Me Wanna Scream (featuring Ian Lewis of Inner Circle)» This track is much like track #4, "Impatient", but to me this track is alot more fun. The beat is actually pretty decent, and the lyrics flow nicely with it as well. I could do without the rapper on this one, but besides that, it's pretty nice, and it's definately worth a listen. [7.5/10]No Place Like Home» Eventhough this may sound pretty corny after a few listens, this is a nice little closing track for the album. It's very true.. very lovely.. I love the beat.. I lover her vocals on this one.. I just love the track, PERIOD. Definately worth a listen! [9/10]The CD also includes a DVD, which to me, I could have also done without, especially since it was about two dollars extra, than the copies with no DVD. It features a little biography, weblinks, pictures, the "Oops! (Hit Em' Up Style)" video, and an interview with Wendy Wallace (the one who had the pretty.. rough experience with interviewing Whitney Houston earlier this year).. In the interview, there's alot of cursing done, which is why this CD has a parental advisory sticker! Wendy looks pretty trashy in this one, and there are alot of things revealed, and annoyingly enough, alot of things NOT REVEALED. Just about all the questions regarding her personal life, and about relationships, she would tell everything that went on, but she would always keep the person she was dating confidential news, which got annoying after the first six or seven times.All in all, the CD is worth all the money, and if you'd like to see the old "Oops (Hit Em' Up Style)" video, you should definately consider trying to get your hands on a limited edition copy with the DVD.. if not I wouldn't really waste my money on the DVD.. I would just grab the CD and buy a coke at checkout.. LOL!Anyway, this is a nice little buy.. way better than her first album, in my opinion, and I think you'll enjoy it, and think the same."
Arista records should be ashamed..
Dance Music Lover | Reading, PA United States | 07/27/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Blu Cantrell has one of the best voices in the industry. "Sleep In The Middle" had the potential to be a huge hit. So why didn't Arista records promote it?? The only single released was "Breathe" which was not well promoted. If you want people to buy your products you need to PROMOTE them!!!! Maybe they should go back to college and take marketing/business classes over again. This underrated cd has some great cuts on it. "Don't Wanna Say Goodbye" and "Holding On To Love" are two more of my favorites. If you like r+b/soul music check this cd out."
Her promoters need to be shot!!!
ccpreacher69 | Dirty South | 08/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Blu Cantrell is very beautiful and very talented! So why then, is she not a superstar? Probably-hate to say- it is her age which I believe is in her mid thirties. That is too bad because I love Blu's voice. This album is very different in the fact that Blu's voice is powerful but with a slight jazz style. Her lyrics are very mature and is straight "grown folks music" that should be appreciated. On Sleep in the Middle Blu really blows the song out of the water! I also like Unhappy and Let her go! Blu emotes a certain type of pain and joy (which ever type of song at the time) that isn't found in too many artists. She knows what the hell she is talking about yall! I think Blu Cantrell's music is very focused and it almost seems as if Blu isn't following any cut song format... just singing!
She does uptempo too. Breathe(with Sean Paul) and Impatient(with Lil Kim and Fat Joe).Happily Ever After that is very jazzy!
I recommend this Cd highly. I didn't appreciate it at first but I had to realize what a gem this is!
My favs: Sleep in the Middle, Unhappy, Let her go, Risk it all, and Breathe"
Taking the Bitter With the Sweet.
The Groove | Boston, MA | 06/29/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In 2001, Blu Cantrell hopped on the trifiling men-bashing bandwagon with the summer single "Hit Em Up Style (Oops)." Produced by Dallas Austin, it's a tale about a scorned woman who gets back at an unfaithful lover by maxing out his cards at Neiman's. It went Top Ten, got mucho play at the clubs, and helped make her debut "So Blu" go gold. But Blu's popularity ended as quickly as the single disappeared from the charts, and it seemed that she was heading for One Hit Wonderland. Fortunately, Blu returns with her solid album, appropriately titled "Bittersweet." First off, anybody looking for a song similar to "Hit Em Up Style" will be out of luck. Not content on repeating herself, Cantrell has grown and moved on from that single. The album's better cuts are the ballads which make the best use of Blu's supple voice. I really dug "Unhappy," as well as "Sleep in the Middle," which finds Cantrell trying to move forward from a relationship that didn't work. "Risk It All" shows how far out of her way Blu will go for her man, while "Impatient" is a cute upbeat jam with Fat Joe and LIl' Kim. "Bittersweet" comes with a bonus DVD with the video to "Hit Em Up Style" as well as a 3-part interview with NY-based DJ Wendy Williams, who was responsible for that horrific interview with Whitney Houston in early 2003. The interview is pretty much what we've come to expect from Wendy Williams: raunchy, gossipy, and wonderfully trashy. It's not quite as revealing as I'd want it to be, but it's still entertaining and it nicely compliments this CD which overall beats the sophomore slump."