A Woman Like Me
by Hal Horowitz"I can feel the pain, Lord, it's raining in my heart," Bettye LaVette howls on "The Forecast," and it sounds like it. On this stunning comeback -- her first American release in over 20 years -- the feisty soul singer rips through an hour of music with the pent-up hunger of a caged tiger at feeding time. Helped immeasurably by producer/songwriter Dennis Walker, best known for his breakout work with Robert Cray, LaVette moans, screams, shouts, pleads, and growls her way through a dozen tracks that'll leave even the most jaded R&B fan begging for more. One of the casualties of music biz politics, LaVette has a style that has only sharpened with age. In her mid-fifties at the time of this recording, the singer has a husky voice that tears at the edges, adding deeper emotion. Although the production leans toward the slick side, it leaves room for the singer to dominate each track. Walker, who wrote or co-wrote nine of these tunes, provides heart-tugging yet defiant material perfect for LaVette's take-no-prisoners approach. The singer plays the part of the scorned, aggressive woman, left behind but strong enough to know she's better off without that no-good scoundrel. Song tiles such as "Salt in My Wounds," "Serves Him Right," and "It Ain't Worth It After a While" tell the story without having to hear a lyric. LaVette squeezes every ounce of emotion from this material, lashing into it with a barely contained explosive delight. Like a stage actress, she builds up the tension gradually until igniting in a shower of yelps and repeated phrases similar to Otis Redding at his most impassioned. This is a powerful album -- moving, intense, and honest -- from an artist desperately making up for lost time. It's a success for everyone involved, and deserves to put Bettye LaVette back on American stages where she belongs.
曲目列表
Right Next Door
Bettye LavetteIt Ain't Worth It After a While
Bettye LavetteWhen a Woman's Had Enough
Bettye LavetteClose as I'll Get to Heaven
Bettye Lavette嘿，大家好，我是闲听。今天咱们来聊聊Bettye Lavette的专辑《A Woman Like Me》。这张专辑，真是一张充满灵魂的佳作。Bettye Lavette的嗓音，就像那陈年的佳酿，越品越有味道。 先说整体风格，这张专辑融合了灵魂、蓝调和R&B，既有节奏感强烈的歌曲，也有抒情深情的曲目。比如《The Forecast》，那节奏感，就像夏日的风，轻轻吹过，让人心情愉悦；《Right Next Door》，则是一首充满爱意的情歌，Bettye Lavette的嗓音，将那份爱意演绎得淋漓尽致。 歌曲编排上，专辑中的曲目既有独立成章的精彩，又有相互呼应的默契。比如《It Ain't Worth It After a While》和《When a Woman's Had Enough》，两首歌曲都表达了一个主题：爱情中的无奈与坚持。Bettye Lavette用她那沙哑而富有感染力的嗓音，将这份无奈与坚持唱得让人心疼。 最后，不得不提的是Bettye Lavette的演唱特色。她的嗓音，时而高亢激昂，时而低沉内敛，将歌曲的情感演绎得淋漓尽致。就像《Close as I'll Get to Heaven》，那歌词中蕴含的悲伤与无奈，Bettye Lavette用她的嗓音，将那份情感传递给了每一位听众。 总的来说，《A Woman Like Me》是一张充满灵魂的专辑，Bettye Lavette用她独特的嗓音和精湛的演唱技巧，将爱情、人生百态唱得淋漓尽致。让我们一起沉浸在这张专辑的魅力中吧！