Eliza Neals: “Badder To The Bone” (2022) CD Review

Eliza Neals is a fierce and fearless warrior, waging battle from the realm of the blues, with power and soul on her side, heard not just in that great voice of hers, but in her work on piano as well. Her new album, Badder To The Bone, features mostly original material, written or co-written by Eliza Neals. It follows 2020’s Black Crow Moan, and like that album, this one features some excellent musicians backing her, including guitarists Lance Lopez and Billy Davis, keyboardist Peter Keys, bassist Jason Kott and drummer Tim Grogan. Eliza Neals produced and arranged the tracks, getting some help from co-producer Michael Puwal on several songs.

Eliza Neals kicks off the album with “United We Stand,” a lively number with a Bo Diddley beat. This is a song designed to energize and unite us. She urges us, “Join hands together/Let’s fight the good fight” and “Look to your brothers and sisters/Don’t give into fear.” Yes, we find her at our side just when we need her the most, as we struggle through whatever this bizarre reality throws at us. We can persevere. That song is followed by “Queen Of The Nile,” a slow blues gem featuring some phenomenal work from Lance Lopez on guitar. You might know Lopez from his work with Lucky Peterson and Supersonic Blues Machine, and from his solo releases. This is a song that kind of creeps up on you and soon envelopes you in the blues, a song that takes its time. Her vocal approach and style here are reminiscent of Janis Joplin at moments. Her voice has that raw power and honesty. This track is just so fucking good, certainly one of the disc’s highlights. “Queen of the Nile/And she’s gonna make you lose your mind/Yes, she will.”

“Lockdown Love” is a strong blues song about dealing with the shifting reality during the pandemic. It includes some playful lyrics about gaining weight. “Thank God you love me ‘cause I’m eating like a pig/Ice cream and peanut butter, pancakes, chocolate chip batter/Five pounds, ten pounds, twenty pounds, whoa/Being cooped up sure is making me grow.” While lots of folks gained weight because they were home all day, dangerously close to the refrigerator at every moment, I actually lost weight during that time due to stress. Yeah, it was fun. Michael Puwal plays both guitar and bass on this track, and Jeffrey “Shakey” Fowlkes is on drums. That is followed by “King Kong,” a blues rock tune that is also a catchy love song. “All through the night, I crave your touch/Come on, darling, I miss you so much.” Then “Bucket Of Tears” sounds like a sexy slow dance, a stranger sliding up to you from the shadows, casting her charms upon you. And if you’re not careful, it will be you who is crying that bucket of tears. “Why oh why did you make me cry/Tears rolling down all night/I cried a bucket of tears over you.” This is another of my personal favorites. It was written by Eliza Neals and Michael Puwal. Brian Clune plays drums on this one.

“Got A Gun” has a fun sound and vibe, and even includes hand claps, though carries a threat: “I got a gun, don’t mess with me/Don’t you know, I’m going to use it on you.” John Galvin joins Eliza Neals on keys for this one, delivering some really good stuff on organ. And this is the track that features Billy Davis on guitar. Skeeto Valdez is on drums. Then “Fueling Me Up” has a compelling groove, making the song feel like it is stalking us, slowly taking hold, getting its grip on us. And we might want to sing the song’s line “Don’t you ever, don’t you ever stop” to Eliza Neals, or to this song itself. That’s followed by “Heathen,” which features John Galvin again on keys. I seriously dig his work. And Eliza Neals doesn’t hold back here. “I’m sick and tired of all your pain/You’d better get your ass on the very next train/You’s a heathen/I wish you’d stop breathin’.” Nothing subtle or ambiguous there, no way to mistake her meaning. Kymberli Wright provides some excellent backing vocal work on this track. The album’s only cover is a good rendition of “Can’t Find My Way Home,” written by Steve Winwood and originally recorded by Blind Faith. The album concludes with another version of “Queen Of The Nile,” titled “Queen Of The Nile II.” This version is somewhat shorter, but still great.

CD Track List

1. United We Stand
2. Queen Of The Nile
3. Lockdown Love
4. King Kong
5. Bucket Of Tears
6. Got A Gun
7. Fueling Me Up
8. Heathen
9. Can’t Find My Way Home
10. Queen Of The Nile II

Badder To The Bone is scheduled to be released on April 23, 2022 on E-H Records.