For some unknown reason, guitar playing heroics in rock and roll seem to be dominated by men. Few and far between are the women who both front a band vocally and with the guitar. Of those, there is one who instantly springs to mind as being equal, if not a superior, to many of her male contemporaries.
Bonnie Raitt long ago carved out her place in rock's pantheon of great players. Her smooth as silk slide blues guitar has stood the test of time and established her as one of the greats in the American blues tradition. In a career that now spans over thirty years, she has covered more territory musically (and geographically, considering her extensive touring) than most musicians even contemplate.
On her latest release Souls Alike, Raitt shows that although she still loves her Delta Blues roots, she is more than willing to keep experimenting with technology and musical styles. While songs like "Love On One Condition" and "Unnecessarily Mercenary" show off her virtuosity with the slide and reassure us that the growl in her voice is still alive and well, other tracks indicate her refusal to be pigeonholed.
"Trinkets", the albums fifth cut, has a funk groove reminiscent of Dr. John and sounds like it comes from the heart of New Orleans. While light in tone and with lyrics bordering on nonsense, you almost miss the fact that it's a song in praise of the little things that help form a child's life.
"Mom and daddies get a good idea/what your babies want/To help 'em be happy like that ol' Gal named Betty/Yeah the groovy old chick teaches Tai-Chi on the levee/Rain or shine she's out there, she's dedicated/She's wrinkled but she lovely/she flexible/and don't you wish we all/were flexible enough to/to dance now?" Bonnie Raitt: "Trinkets", Souls Alike
Taking a step away from her Deep South influences, Raitt explores some unfamiliar territory on "Crooked Crown". Musically more reminiscent of Alannis Morrisette than John Lee Hooker, and with an effects box on her voice for harmonies, this is not the sound we've come to expect on a Bonnie Raitt CD.
But it is a great song, and indicative of her willingness to continue to stretch herself as an artist. One of her strengths has always been her ability to choose music that is appropriate for her to perform. But on Souls Alike she shows herself willing to take risks in her repertoire that artists half her age aren't willing to attempt.
Article comments
1 - Jeff
Great review gypsyman, I've been able to listen
to this awesome new collection of songs
and was more than surprised at many of
these songs, not that I wouldn't for
a second think Bonnie Raitt was capable
of doing an excellent job whatever she
tackles, I was just felt, wow, here's a musican, a lady in her middle 50's who
has nothing to prove
to anyone. Shes put out great blues
tinged music since the 70's, I've grown up with her sounds, I heard neighborhood girls playing her music while in my teenage
years in the 70's, I knew what she could do and I heard the negatives from
older guys who just couldn't deal with
a chick who could play slide guitar so
well like many of their guitar heros.
I've been around her music & concerts
ever since and I've seen the little
things she adds to her blues/rock (funk,pop, regaee, SOUL), but now
she has really put out a collection
that plays up to many of her strengths and
shes uses so many sonics touches that
make her sound fresh yet very intimate,
like you're right in there whiles its
being played live. Exceptional bunch
of new songs from songwriters, many
of whom could use the exposure. It doesn't hurt to be playing with such a
talented bunch of musicans, especially
Jon Cleary from New Orleans who just
brings out the best of Bonnie. My
favorites, "God was in the water",(what a great swampy song)
"Trinkets",(off the wall lyrics but think of it from a kids perspective, the little thinks we carry with us
as kids into adulthood, "The bed I made",(what a beautiful vocal, grammy #10??) "Deep
water",(another eye opener),(Awesome groove, keyboards and slide) "So close"(I say SO SOULFUL, wow you just
don't hear music sung like this with
such confidence, soul, and so relaxing.
The new single, "I will not be broken"
is a great song, it has a sound we
have become familiar with Bonnie but
it has a great radio bounce to it and
most important it has something to
say about loss and hope. Bonnie Raitt
puts herself in the big leauges again
but she really never left there, shes
just been touring her butt of all these
years and having to deal with a culture
that see her as an aging woman blues/musican-activist
instead of the talented musican that most musicans can only
dream of being. Radio should give Bonnie's music a chance again, ageism
doens't belong there. All the guys
can get old and its no big deal(BBKING,
Eric Clapton, The Stones, etc. but
woman have to keep looking like chicks
or step aside?? Great Stuff from
Bonnie Raitt