Review by Taf Rock for MPM
Joanne Shaw Taylor unleashes the title track from her forthcoming album. Heavy Soul is filled to the brim with luscious guitar licks and Joanne’s distinctive vocal style as she blends shades of soul and pop with her usual tried and tested blues rhythms.
Joanne starts the track as she means to continue treating the listeners ears to exceptional stinging guitar. ‘Brother won’t you tell me how to stay on the road I’m on’ – the weight of emotional burdens creating a Heavy Soul. It’s hard to ‘stay on the road… The lights they’re all fading’. Heartfelt heavy and profound lyrics which contrast with the delightful groovy rhythms of the track. The exceptional guitar licks demonstrate Joanne at her finest as she takes the anguish and pain of the dilemma she is faced with and transforms it into some of the finest guitar she has ever produced throughout the totality of this five minute long title track.

‘Lay my body down in the ground, say your best prayers and let my heavy soul go’ – the dark intense lyrics continue to proliferate the track. Driving bass and drum rhythms, keys and backing vocals provide the backdrop to the main feature of the track those superlative guitar riffs that lift the listener above and beyond the dark subject matter of the song.
‘Sister can’t you hear me dragging my feet to this relentless beat … when I’m gone light a candle … save my soul … my worry ends when I hit the dirt’. Joanne is going down fighting as she launches into another of her prolific solos.
The album Heavy Soul is scheduled for release June 7th on Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records label. Produced by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Black Crowes, Journey) the disc features contributions from drummer/percussionist Anton Fig, bassist Alison Prestwood, guitarist Rob McNelly and includes the previous singles Wild Love, A Good Goodbye, Black Magic, and Sweet ‘Lil Lies amongst the ten tracks on offer.
Witness for yourself a slab of blues excellence at one of Joanne’s gigs – she is on tour throughout the UK in February.
The single is now available to stream HERE.
Watch the official music video for the “Heavy Soul” single HERE.
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
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