Carrie Rodriguez – Give Me All You Got (Ninth Street Opus).

Rodriguez’s sound is rooted in Americana (Country/Pop of Devil In Mind and Whiskey Runs Thicker Than Blood) and Jackson Browne and The Eagles influences abound (the Country ballads Sad Joy and Cut Me Now, the latter a triumph). She uses her fiddle to great effect on the instrumental version of Devil In Mind and the gritty Country Rock of I Cry For Love. She’s not just a fiddler though; her voice is powerful in places (Tragic), soothing in others (Get Back In Love). Her easy to fall for style is exemplified by the nu-Country songs Lake Harriet and I Don’t Mind Waiting as well as the strangely effective Brooklyn.

 

www.carrierodriguez.com

 

David Blue.

 

Lisa Biales – Singing In My Soul (Big Song Music).

Lisa’s eighth album on Big Song showcases her diverse musical tastes. There’s Gospel with the triumphant eponymous title track. Country Blues are represented by Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me, which just falls short of David Johanssen’s version. You Got To Know How is a bar-room Blues of high order whereas I Only Have Eyes For You is given an excellent slow Jazz treatment. There is good rise and fall in her voice and she has a wonderful tone throughout. The only self-penned song is the childlike Magic Garden, whilst Write Me In Care Of the Blues has a 50s Blues sound and may just be a little too clean.

www.LisaBiales.com

 

David Blue.

Paul Rose – Double Life (Mita Records).

Rose has built his fan-base over the years but this, his 12^th album, may well be the one to bring him widespread attention. A mix of classics like Honey Hush, If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don’t Want To Be Right) and Stormy Monday would seem commonplace. However, the treatment of these standards and Rose’s superb guitar playing makes the album well worth seeking out. Guest vocalists pepper the album; Terry Evans on the beautiful, Gospel influenced Dark End Of The Street, Sweet Pea Atkinson on  the rocking Ball & Chain and Raffia Ford on the excellent R&B of Crazy ‘Bout You Baby are standouts.

www.paulrose.co.uk

www.mitarecords.com

 

David Blue.