EG (that’s how she spells it) calls herself “The Georgia Songbird.” It’s an apt moniker given her superior pipes; while she may not be blessed with perfect pitch, she has a voice equally at home expressing resilient strength or tender regret, with a sultry sensuality to her phrasing that’s nothing short of irresistible. There’s a warmth, somehow, to everything she sings, something that draws one into that voice; one can’t help but like EG, and with her heart so obviously in the right place, to want her to succeed.
EG co-wrote all but three of Southern Comfort’s dozen tracks, for the most part blending Memphis soul with Muscle Shoals funk to good result. She’s supported here by a fine band, with horns on roughly half the cuts. EG contributes rhythm guitar, and guests include Chuck Leavell and Lee Roy Parnell. Performers acquit themselves admirably; accompaniment, without exception, leaves nothing to be desired, and the arrangements are invariably tasteful and well considered. Production is somewhere between adequate to excellent; the brass is crisp, the guitars snarl with a distinct menace, and there’s lots of space in the mix, but occasionally things just seem to lack a certain punch.
So all told there’s almost everything to like about EG Kight’s third outing under her own name. Except . . . well, for me the pacing is a little too lax. From beginning to end the tracks follow an unwavering pattern of fast-slow-fast-slow-fast, and the constant contrast weakens the emotional impact of the disc as a whole.
That minor quibble aside, this is a fine effort. If your tastes run to down-home blue eyed soul, Southern Comfort may well be an essential acquisition. Those looking for a straight-ahead blues outing, however, may want to give it a listen before deciding.
Blue South Records
P. O. Box 13473, East Dublin, GA 31027
Web: www.bluesouthrecords.com
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