"Drama" is Bitter:Sweet's first true follow-up since their debut with The Mating Game (2006). As with Shahani's past work the sound is certainly influenced by any number of film scores, so many of the thirteen songs (actually twelve plus a twelve second "Intro Dramatico") could be used for soundtracks. In fact, one of them is. "The Bomb" is already the theme song for the NBC series "Lipstick Jungle." Bitter:Sweet has become quite popular since their debut two years ago, and this second album (not counting the remix CD of their first, "The Remix Game") could, and should, take them to wide mainstream popularity. But what about their less mainstream future?

1. Intro Dramatico
2. Get What I Want
3. Come Along With Me
4. The Bomb
5. Drama
6. Waking Up
7. A Moment
8. Sugar Mama
9. Trouble
10. Love Revolution
11. Neurosis
12. Drink You Sober
13. Everything

The orchestral "Trouble" could easily make its way into almost any spy film, and the title track is certainly melodramatic. All of the songs, both ballads and midtempo, have an air of mystery, but the duo of Shana Halligan and Kiran Shahani also provide lighthearted moments, like "Sugar Mama," which has lyrics like "shower me with flowers and buy me naughty things," and "Love Revolution," with its retro synths, hints at becoming a tongue-in-cheek look at an earlier time.

Bitter:Sweet is often listed with other "trip-hop" groups, but they have a sound of their own, particularly with Harrigan's girlish, breathy voice and Shahani's imaginative use of samples. They have a strong element of quirky singer/songwriter melodies and vocals paired with a certain, almost trademark production quality, that plays with both samples and real instruments (including a string section) to bring forth a sound that mixes in many influences: exotica, lounge, old time swing, downtempo, jazz, and Latin.

As stated earlier, Bitter:Sweet has become quite popular since their first release "The Mating Game" and this second one (not counting the remix CD of their first, "The Remix Game") could, and should, take them to wide mainstream popularity. If they are going to hold on to their less mainstream listeners for a third album, they may need to play with their sound and explore more complex lyrics. Or, to put it in film makers parlance, develop more complex characters and a less obvious plot line.

~ Dave Howell

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