Melissa Etheridge - Deluxe Edition

Along with Tracy Chapman and the Indigo Girls, Melissa Etheridge spearheaded a fresh wave of female singer/songwriters in the late 1980s. Her raw-throated vocals and confessional songwriting set her apart from the pack, and Melissa’s 1988 self-titled debut album still packs a considerable wallop — from first track to last, she pours out her innermost torments as if her very sanity were at stake. Etheridge seems on the verge of shredding her vocal chords on torrid testimonies like “Bring Me Some Water” and “Similar Features.” More modulated tunes like “The Late September Dogs” prove that she can hold back and still make her point. Her obsession with romantic break-ups and recriminations narrows the range of the album, but few artists can wear their scars of romantic combat as proudly as she can — her survivor’s strength transforms tracks like “Chrome Plated Heart” into anthems of passion. For all the sorrow and rage in her performances, Etheridge keeps her dignity and seems ennobled by her suffering. Melissa Etheridge became the foundation for an impressive career; it remains her most enduring work. (This deluxe edition includes 15 tracks of live material from the same year.)