CD Review
Reneé Austin
Sweet Talk
(Blind Pig Records)
by Rich Benson
Review date: December 2003
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Reneé's first major label CD release achieves many things. It showcases her incredible vocal talents, displays her excellent songwriting skills, and captures as well as possible the energy, enthusiasm, and passion she brings to blues. Recording such a dynamic live performer is a little like watching a tropical storm on TV as opposed to being out in the middle of it: you can appreciate it's splendor and power, yet it's not quite the same. Producer Kevin Bowe does a very good job capturing the essence of Reneé Austin's talents on what turns out to be a very good CD. Solid instrumentalists and capable background vocalists, as well as Delbert McClinton on "Pretend We Never Met" do a nice job of supporting Reneé's vocal talents.
The two strongest songs are "Fool Moon," an original by Reneé and "Pretend We Never Met" penned by talented local songwriter and keyboard player Bruce McCabe. "Fool Moon" is a torchy, retro sounding song that takes you back to the time of the blues and jazz divas of the 40's and 50's, while yet being solidly in the present. Here Reneé shows off all of her vocal skills: low, throaty, sultry power, rich, soaring highs, powerful held notes, great vibrato, and excellent voice control. She also manages to set a very atmospheric mood with her voice. "Pretend We Never Met" is notable both for her duet with Delbert and how well she handles the song. Together they make it a treat. One song that is a curious choice is "Pour the Sugar Slowly." While it is a catchy song in its own way, its simple, repetitive lyrics are not much of a challenge for Reneé's vocal talents. Several other songs penned by Reneé stand out nicely. "Not Alone" is a solid love song with a strong message. "Bury the Hatchett" allows Reneé to show the humor and cheekiness present in both her vocals and songwriting. The catchy tune "Unraveling" paints a great descriptive picture for the listener of a relationship coming to an end.
One of the strongest things on the CD is where the instrumentation is brought down, and Reneé's voice flows out beautifully over the soft playing behind her. With such a talented vocalist, more of this could have made the CD even better. Some numbers could have used a little less instrumentation. "Bitter Water" is a powerful song, yet the best version I heard was live with Reneé backed only by acoustic guitar, and her voice and lyrics had much greater impact. On the original "Bottom of a Heart" Reneé really wraps her voice around it, showing what she can really do with her range, power, and voice control. Reneé has become a true blues diva, yet one with down home roots that add to the power and authentic feelings in her songs.
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