CD Review
Deborah Coleman
What About Love?
(Telarc 83595)
by Gordon Baxter
Review date: August 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Deborah Coleman is widely renowned for the quality of her live shows. She also has a succession of well received studio albums to her credit. With the release of "What About Love?" she joins the increasing number of blues musicians who have switched to the Telarc label.
The opener, "Bad Boy," swings along nicely. It sounds a bit slicker than a lot of Coleman's earlier recordings, and has an almost jazzy feel to it. There is a softer focus to the overall sound, and this holds true for much of the album. Whilst it works in places, it falls flat on songs like "Undeniable" which comes across as a bit too sultry, rather than spitting and snarling like the Ellis Hooks version.
Coleman fans who like the rockier edge that characterises much of her previous work will have to wait until the opening of "Healing Ground" for satisfaction. The rest of the track is more blues than rock, though, and even veers towards AOR. It is followed by the instrumental, "River World" which is the best track here. The thumping bass and drums mark time, while Coleman runs across a few styles, hinting at Calexico in places, before jumping in with a trademark solo. The album then largely meanders along in a pleasant enough way, without doing too much to keep your attention, although the title track does have an irritatingly memorable chorus.
"What About Love?" is one of those albums that leaves you unsure what to make of it. It is not a bad album, but it just seems a bit low key and almost lacklustre for Coleman. There are still plenty of signs that she remains a fine singer, and a very good guitarist. Whether the album marks the start of a change in direction, only time will tell. One to try before you buy.
www.telarc.com
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