Eliza Neals: “Colorcrimes” (2024) CD Review

I get excited whenever Eliza Neals releases a new album. And each time she does, it feels like that disc is exactly what we are in need of, both as individuals and as a nation. Her power, her energy, her passion are things I want to unleash upon the unstable political landscape of this country. We should have had our first female president by now. Hillary Clinton won in 2016, but because of the totally ridiculous and antiquated Electoral College nonsense, the country was put into the hands of the least capable person this nation has vomited up in its entire history, and we are still suffering. Women lost their right to choose because of that election. What we need are fierce female voices to set things right. When I listen to Eliza Neals, I hear such a voice. Her new album, Colorcrimes, features all original material, written or co-written by Eliza Neals. In addition to providing the lead vocals, she also plays piano and organ, and does some of her own backing vocals as well. Michael Puwal co-produced several of the tracks, acted as mixing engineer for the album, and also plays guitar on most of the tracks. Eliza Neals has several other musicians joining her on various tracks.

Eliza Neals opens the album with a song titled “Heal This Land.” There is a great, raw acoustic blues sound as it begins, and the first line she sings, after some cool humming, is “Everything’s gonna be all right.” It’s so good to hear that from her, for I believe her. Soon she is urging, “Clap your hands, clap your hands,” and we hear some people clapping in rhythm. And I love that steady pounding of the drum, urging us to march toward a better world. “Be strong with your convictions/It’s gonna be all right/Sometimes you need to shout and scream.” Oh yes, no question about that. But, more importantly, she reminds us at the end, “We got to make amends.” This is a great opening track. The music turns electric then with “Banned In Jackson,” and there is more power, and also more joy. Here she is rocking the blues, and this track features some good guitar work. I want to know the story behind this song, as she sings, “I was banned in Jackson, everybody knows my name/Banned in Jackson, I wore a short skirt on stage.” Mark Leach delivers some nice stuff on organ. Doug Woern plays bass, and Justin Headley is on drums.

She slows things down with the album’s title track, “Colorcrimes,” which features some nice work on keys at the beginning, on both piano and organ (that’s Mark Leach again on organ). There is a beauty to this song, both in that playing and in her vocal delivery. “Why can’t we live together/Just make time for life/Why can’t we talk it over/Don’t make a color a crime.” She gives an incredibly moving and passionate vocal performance. Halfway through, Eliza Neals sings, “No time for bigotry/Treachery/And lies.” Wow, “Bigotry, treachery and lies” could be the Republican Party’s motto. And as she repeats the question at the end, “Why can’t we,” it feels like she is demanding an answer, and that one might suddenly come darting out of the sky to satisfy her, the universe naturally wanting to comply.  Then “Something’s Better Than Nothing” has a brighter, more pleasant vibe, containing soul and pop elements. “Just be thankful for what you got/It’s better to have than to have not/Something’s better than nothing.” Peter Keys is on electric piano, Jason Kott is on bass, and Tim Grogan plays drums. This one also includes hand claps. And I appreciate these lines: “You woke up this morning, no tag on your toe/You better enjoy your life before it’s time to go.” Yes, indeed! So much needs to be changed, but we’d better enjoy ourselves along the way, because it’s all over too soon.

“Do you ever feel like part of you is dead?” Eliza Neals asks at the beginning of “Love Dr. Love.” When the song kicks in, it takes on a delicious funky vibe, which is a lot of fun. And this track features cool work by Luis Resto and Nick Haynes on horns. Really, everything about this track is delicious, particularly Eliza Neals’ vocal performance, which is lively and playful and wonderful. There is something surprisingly uplifting about this track. Toward the end, there is a brief section where we are suddenly walking along a street in New Orleans, before it kicks in again. This song was written by Eliza Neals, Barrett Strong and Brian Lord, and it is one of my personal favorites. Then at the beginning of “Sugar Daddy,” Eliza sings, “I’m just a girl.” Just a girl? Come on! This ends up being another fun track, also with hand claps. It is, I suppose, a sort of love song, even if not about a true love. It was written by Barrett Strong and Eliza Neals. It is followed by “Candy Store,” a totally delightful number that takes a familiar blues rhythm and runs with it. I love the way those smooth backing vocals contrast with Eliza’s raw delivery. Kimberli Wright joins Eliza Neals on backing vocals. Plus, this one features some excellent stuff on both piano and organ. John Galvin is on organ for this one. “Ain’t nobody want nothing in your candy store (No no, no no)/The word on the street says closed forever more (No no, no no).”

“Found Me Another” has something of a pop feel mixed into its blues. “I’m sick and tired of this wicked game/I’ll come straight with you, baby/I’m going away/Far away from you.” I love that section toward the end when she just cuts loose on the guy: “I’m so tired of your face, I’m so tired of your mess/I’m so sick of you talking to me, and all your texts.” Jason Kott is on bass, and Jeffrey Fowlkes plays drums on this track. The album then concludes with “Friday Night (All Day Long),” which has a good rock energy. The song was written by Eliza Neals and Michael Puwal. Here Eliza tells us, “I checked in on my bank account/Found out all my money was spent/Rent was due, I had decisions to make/Today started off like one big mistake/Nothing’s going my way/My horoscope said Mercury’s in retrograde.” Ah, so what can a person do? None of that can be solved on a Friday night anyway, so you might as well enjoy yourself. Sometimes you have to just decide that nothing is going to get in the way of having a good time. The problems will likely still be there afterward, but they might be easier to deal with if you’ve taken some time first to enjoy yourself.

CD Track List

1. Heal This Land
2. Banned In Jackson
3. Colorcrimes
4. Something’s Better Than Nothing
5. Love Dr. Love
6. Sugar Daddy
7. Candy Store
8. Found Me Another
9. Friday Night (All Day Long)

Colorcrimes was released on May 24, 2024 on E-H Records.