She opens this release with “Don’t
Judge The Blues,” and as it gets going, that drum is thumping, driving our
hearts, and Eliza’s vocals are a force blowing in from some fiery mountain,
where the tormented souls of lesser creatures cheer her on. She is here to take
over, this track seems to announce, and we are glad for it. “Come and sing with me.” This track also
features some good work on guitar by Mike Puwal, who co-wrote the song with
Eliza. She follows that with “Why You Ooglin’ Me,” a title I love (though, of
course the word is “ogle,” not “oogle”), and a question we could perhaps
provide a good answer for. “I know you
can see me/You live across the way.” This one moves more slowly, taking its
time, strutting and knowing it is in charge. Plus, it features more good work
on guitar by Mike Puwal, who also co-wrote this track.
Joe Louis Walker joins Eliza
Neals on guitar and vocals on “The Devil Don’t Love You,” and makes his
presence known right from the start of the track, singing the opening lines
with Eliza: “The devil, he don’t love
you/He just keeps you satisfied.” Lenny Bradford and also provides vocals
on this track, in addition to playing bass and tambourine. This track also
features some excellent work on organ by Bruce Bears. “Nothing can stop me now,” Eliza Neals then sings in “Watch Me Fly,”
and I don’t doubt her for a second. This tune has a slower groove, with a power
bubbling below the surface and breaking through mostly on the chorus. On this
track, Howard Glazer is on guitar, Chuck Bartels is on bass, Jim Alfredson is
on organ, and Demarcus Sumter is on drums. Valerie Taylor and Kymberli Wright
provide some wonderful backing vocals.
In “River Is Rising,” Eliza
Neals sings “You need to confess your
sins/Because sinners never prosper/Oh, cheaters never win, never win.” Oh,
I wish that were true. But look where we are in this country. How did someone
without an honest or decent cell in his entire body come to attain such a
position of power? “Gonna make you pay,”
Eliza calls out at one moment toward the end, and I trust that she will. That’s
followed by “Run Sugar Run,” a song you want to latch onto and ride into a
better day, a stronger day, as it bursts through whatever barriers stand before
us. “Run, run, run to the other side/Lose
all your troubles, don’t you lose your mind/Can’t get what you want if you
don’t ever try.” This track features more strong guitar work. Joe Louis Walker joins Eliza Neals again on
the album’s title track, “Black Crow Moan,” another of this disc’s powerful
tracks.
Derek St. Holmes joins Eliza on
guitar for the album’s final three tracks, beginning with “Never Stray,”
another slow groove. Derek St. Holmes is known for his work with Ted Nugent,
but we can forgive him for that. There is something about this song that tears
into you, its claws gripping you. Of course, a big part of it is Eliza Neals’ passionate
vocal performance. That’s followed by the album’s only cover, “Ball And Chain,”
a song by Big Mama Thornton, but one I was introduced to on a Janis Joplin
cassette I bought when I was thirteen or so. Eliza Neals’ voice has a raw edge,
which works so bloody well here. There is both power and heartache in her
delivery. She really digs into this one. And that guitar work is fantastic. Plus,
there is some cool work on keys. The album then concludes with a fun rock and
roll number, “Hey, Take Your Pants Off.” The hell with being subtle, right? It
is an enjoyable track, a nice way of ending things.
CD Track List
- Don’t Trust The Blues
- Why You Ooglin’ Me
- The Devil Don’t Love You
- Watch Me Fly
- River Is Rising
- Run Sugar Run
- Black Crow Moan
- Never Stray
- Ball And Chain
- Hey, Take Your Pants Off
Black Crow Moan was released on April 6, 2020.
No comments:
Post a Comment