Review: Joanne Shaw-Taylor – Heavy Soul
Journeyman Records (June 14th, 2024)
Reviewer: Peter Scallan
Joanne Shwa Taylor has been a bit hit or miss for me down the years. I first saw her in a club Las Vegas March 2018 and she was superb. However, late that year I saw her at Stone Free Festival and on the big stage she looked a little lost. Similarly with her recorded output, it has been hit or miss also. Therefore, I took on this review, expecting a similar outcome.
‘Sweet Little Lies‘ opens the album and the intro straight away reminds me a little of Buck and Evans. What we get is a mid-paced rocker full of melody, soul and a killer vocal. A great start! Next up is ‘All the Way From America‘, which is a cover of a Joan Armatrading song. Opening with acoustic guitar it is recognisable as an Armatrading song and is delivered with the same soulful blues as the opener and characteristic of the range of styles on parade with this album. The next song has an archetypal blues opening and rhythm about it and is another original JS-T number. It is firmly in the rhythm and blues category and just reaffirms JS-T’s roots in blues. With some great guitar and piano flourishes and some really catchy female backing vocals, it bounces along nicely. Another cover is next with ‘Drowning In The Sea of Love‘. I am familiar with this song from Boz Scaggs. However, it is originally the title track from the Joe Simon’s 1971 album of the same name. This turns out to be another fine slice of soulful R’n’B which really suits JS-T’s voice. A mid-paced and laid-back number with further great backing vocals too. The pace and mood drop a little for ‘A Good Goodbye‘, which is another original. A slow, laid back semi-acoustic ballad of sorts, it has some tasty guitar licks in there.
Going into the second half of the album we get the title track ‘Heavy Soul‘. This picks up the pace and is more guitar driven and tougher than the previous tracks and is more blues rock but those lush backing vocals provide that soulful backdrop. ‘Wild Love‘ slightly picks up the pace but brings a lighter, commercial feel to the album. Opening with a rim-shot rhythm on the drum it is a slow burner of sorts and builds into a pacey, almost poppy number. While it certainly shows another side and adds to the variety of display in this album, it passes me by. We slip back to the covers with Van Morrison’s ‘Someone Like You‘. I am not a fan of Morrison, but he is a great songwriter! Based on the more soulful R’n’B on offer so far, this is an excellent song for showcasing JS-T’s soulful crooning and it doesn’t disappoint. While it doesn’t stray too far from the original arrangement, it really hits the sweet spot as the album’s bona fide ballad. ‘The Devil in Me‘ picks up the pace and power and is built around a shuffle-style rhythm and does a job as a blues rocker and for me was an indication that the album was going to fizzle out. How wrong could I be! Last and by no means is final song ‘Change of Heart‘ – talk about leaving the best for last! This song just oozes pure class and is a melodic, light touch R‘n’B number which just huge single written all over it. Another number with a mix of acoustic and electric guitar, it has supremely catchy chorus and ends the album on the high it started within terms of ‘Sweet Little Lies‘.
On initial listens, for me there were only a couple of songs that jumped out at me. However, those numbers drew me back into listening to the album. Granted, there are a couple of numbers that kind of drop the ball a little bit, but overall this is great album that has some stunning songs on it and it has certainly changed my perspective on JS-T. If this more soulful R’n’B approach is the direction of travel, then I look forward to seeing this live.
Track Listing:
1. Sweet ‘Lil Lies
2. All The Way From America
3. Black Magic
4. Drowning In A Sea Of Love
5. A Good Goodbye
6. Heavy Soul
7. Wild Love
8. Someone Like You
9. Devil In Me
10. Change Of Heart
ROCKPOSER DOT COM! 