Bitterweed

BITTERWEED is an edgy rock outfit from NYC whose 11 track release hits hard yet retains a level of intelligence that many other bands fail to reach. Distinctive guitars, such as the uber-crunch of "Pride", and the hauntingly acoustic vibe of "Down", lead Bitterweed's rock and roll charge, almost sounding at times like Pearl Jam's days of yore, especially when the wah-wah pedal gets the abuse it richly deserves. There's even elements of jazz, complete with some atmospheric saxophone, displayed on the seductive track "Dimebag". 
The secret weapon of this quartet, however, is front woman Linda LaPorte, whose vocal lines rival the smokiness of Stevie Nicks and the passion of Janis Joplin, truly exerting a strong female rock presence that many of today's rock chicks discernibly lack. ON THE HIGH WIRE is a reaffirmation that female fronted rock CAN be both rocking and sexy, without sacrificing one for the other. 


- 3:16Productions.com

Call BITTERWEED whatever you want -- pot-lovin', brass-ballin', beer-swilling rawkers from the back streets of Nu Yawk -- but don't assume for one minute that lead singer Linda LaPorte is just a pouty little girl frontin' for her boys from da hood. With a husky, tonal voice that makes her sound like a Janis Joplin understudy, she combines no-wave poetry ("I'm your paper bag princess slaying dragons for you," she rasps on "Open Up") with a he-done-me-wrong, country-western sensibility by way of the Brooklyn Bridge ("The difference between me and you is the shit you keep stumbling into," she snarls on "Down") to create a feel that, while not entirely original, is certainly real. There's no pretentiousness, no image to uphold, and no holds barred on their debut album, just full-on, in-your-face modern rock'n'blues. They're coming to a town near you...who's got the Old Number 7?
- The Island Ear