Ruf Records artist: Joanne Shaw Taylor - Almost Always Never - New Release Review

I just received Almost Always Never, the newest release from Joanne Shaw Taylor. This recording, to be released on September 12, 2012, shows a different side of Taylor but one that will appeal to a large number of listeners. Soul Station, the opening track, has a dance beat and JST's meaty vocals but the guitar work is along the lines of a Jeff Beck track with more reckless abandon while under total control in JST's able hands. Beautifully Broken and You Should Stay, I Should Go are both quick paced radio oriented tracks with hot guitar riffs bringing up the rear. Piece Of The Sky is a cool neo soul style track putting me in mind of the earliest Macy Gray recordings (which I really like). There is a really hot guitar solo on this track adding to the overall impact. Frankie Miller's Jealousy is the only track not written by JST on the recording. This is really a blues ballad executed to a tee by JST with a solid but understated vocal bed of blues laid down in from of an explosive frenzy of guitar work. Excellent! Tied and Bound is a straight up rocker with a heavy bottom. JTS grinds out more solid guitar work on this track well complimenting her vocal lead. Standing To Fall is another track that pushes the envelope almost into pure shredding and the heavy side of rock. JST handles the task effortlessly. Maybe Tomorrow opens with a very light touch and a jazzy rhythm pattern but after just a short time, JTS opens the doors and the guitar fills the room. This recording gives JST the opportunity to really explore progressive soloing while keeping the basic track relatively simple. The final track, Lose Myself To Loving You, is a very slick blues ballad that could easily hit it big on airplay.
JST is backed by David Garza (keys and mandolin), Billy White (Bass and slide) and JJ Johnson (drums).


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This is not a track from Joanne's new release but I couldn't find one... here's Joanne if you don't know her work: