Love & Rage

It's tough pulling off an album of beautifully crafted folk-pop that also includes biting social commentary but CB does all this and more in her stellar 7th release. It is done so well that it prompted Pop Matters' Steve Horowitz to opine that the album 'shows her as an ardent romantic when it comes to affairs of the heart and a fervent advocate for the poor and disenfranchised'.

Whether she's singing about the need to combat neo-nazis after the riots in her home town of Charlottesville or 'dancing with the beautiful girls' in Party At The End Of The World, her heartfelt delivery and unique vocal styling show that she is as much a fighter as one who loves life. The world play is a lot of fun too, including gems like 'banging drums and banging drummers' and 'there ain't nothing more criminal than kindness'. All this is deftly complemented by a band that is as adept rocking out as it is laying down a jazzy vibe.
           
FCC: Track #7, Shit List, 
RIYL: Norah Jones, Dave Edmunds

1 Party At The End Of The World - uptempo beat and twangy guitar (fast, 3:43)***
2 Down In The Streets - nice horns on this joyful celebration of political protest  (med, 3:09)**
3 Be Good - sycnopated beat on this homage to MLK & JC (med, 3:28)***
4 All My Love - quiet bittersweet love story with nice orchestration with nice harmonies (slow, 3:42)*
5 Can't Wait To Break Your Heart - power pop love song with nice harp (med, 2:36)
6 Shit List - Condemnation of white supremacy based on Charlottesville riots (2:37, fast)
7 So Long New Orleans - jazzy, laconic celebration of the Big Easy (slow, 3:29)
8 Be So Bad - fun toe tapper about being an independent woman (fast, 3:01)
9 Sufferin' Fools - uptempo love song with a Steely Dan feel (fast, 2:56)
10 Ain't No Sin - Drop dead beautiful soul ballad with sultry bass/piano accents (med, 3:09)***
11 Mercy - simple acoustic guitar backing allows her vocals to shine (slow, 2:50)