Review by Ritchie Birnie for MPM
With Beth’s latest album following on from the huge successes of The Zep Tribute album and the incredible War on my Mind there was a chance things could slip but You Still Got Me offers up some quirky, some sublime and a whole dollop of beautiful and like the great lady this could be her most vulnerable album to date.
The album opens with the sultry “Savior With a Razor”. If you have been to one of Beth’s shows where she slinks through the crowd singing this is the feeling you get as she passes you by. The goosebumps take over and with Slash doing the fret work this song is like an ice drip straight into the veins. This is blues from another dimension.
“Suga N My Bowl” gives us a second helping of guitar heavy hitters with the magnificent Eric Gales and that man is head to toe Blues and he brings the attitude which may be a close second only to Beth. This is more upbeat whilst holding onto that Beth slither.
Now for the quirky in “Never Underestimate a Gal”. Imagine a burlesque ensemble done in a big top. It is larger than life, full of spunk and all done with the tongue firmly in cheek. It is as catchy as hell and is one of the songs on the album that will be ringing round your head long after it has stopped.
With “Drunk on Valentine” picture Beth in a smoke filled jazz club strolling through the tables and letting that powerful voice soar. Sounding like a 60s detective soundtrack but with so much more. The more you listen to this song the more you get from it. It grows, it soars and it is one of the most beautiful pieces on this album.
With a song title like “Wanna be a Bad Johhny Cash” you know exactly what to expect…a homage with attitude and a huge pair of balls. This is fun and it works perfectly.
From the unusual to pure perfection in “Wonderful World”. What a stunning song. It is very personal to Beth and a reflection on her Niece and female members of her family and she has captured a moment the way only Beth knows how too.
You have to wonder if “Little Heartbreak Girl” is really a reflection of Beth. The lyrics are stunning and many stick with the woman we know. It is a fight just like life and the most precious moment is when the words “You’re gonna conquer the World” leaves her lips and it is accentuated perfectly on the piano break down. this is another Beth moment to savour, to love and to be thankful for.
The intro to “Don’t Call the Police” is so Rocky Horror I expected Frank’n’Furter to start singing but no, we just get Beth with the piano and a thunderous heartbeat played in the background. This song grabs you from the first notes and when Beth starts gasping I was almost shaking in my seat. I do not think I have been so immersed in a song on the first listen. One of the most powerful tracks Beth has written.
You get a gorgeous piano intro on the title track and once again Beth takes you on a journey tinged with every emotion. This is sent out to the woman’s support group and as always her husband Scott is front and centre.
The man is at every show and I am happy to say I have spoken previously and I reckon the guy is a bit of a legend and I am happy to say if there is no Scott there is a very different Beth and this song sums up more than I ever could.
the tone of the piano on “Pimp Like That” is like liquid gold, This track has Beth once again giving us that vocal sultriness that only she does. For some reason I had flashbacks to a very young me listening to my mother playing Shirley Bassey and the power of that woman’s voice is living through Beth and to be fair this could be a 70’s / 80’s James Bond theme song with ease…and just wait for that cheeky laugh.
To close out the album we go dark on “Machine Gun Vibrato” and I hear you, are we talking about Beth’s voice? To be fair it is the best summation I have heard.
If like me you are a Peaky Blinders fan this song was made for the soundtrack. I can imagine Beth dressed as Polly in it and hell, there is a movie coming up so lets set up a campaign to get this to happen.
This song is incredible, I played it again and again. Beth drops her voice to the floor and I just waited for the lyrics red right hand to drop but even though they didn’t this is the best female Nick Cave impersonation I have ever heard.
You Still Got Me is a stunning album. It is Beth through and through but with new insight, raw emotions and a few left of field numbers that you know Beth is giving us a cheeky wink and a laugh.
This woman is very, very special. As much as I love all number of female blues singers Beth owns the crown and nobody, no matter how talented is taking that from her.
Tracklisting
1. Savior With A Razor ft. Slash
2. Suga N My Bowl ft. Eric Gales
3. Never Underestimate A Gal
4. Drunk on Valentine
5. Wanna Be Big Bad Johnny Cash
6. Wonderful World
7. Little Heartbreak Girl,
8. Don’t Call The Police
9. You Still Got Me
10. Pimp Like That
11. Machine Gun Vibrato
Also, watch the videos for You Still Got Me | Little Heartbreak Girl
Tickets are available HERE.
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Facebook: / officialbethhart
