New Album Review: Tami Neilson- Kingmaker

Tami Neilson- Kingmaker

Label: Southbound

Producer: Tami Neilson

Tami Neilson records are like a stick of dynamite (in fact, that was even the title of her 2014 breakthrough album). The sixth studio release from the earthquaking country/rock/soul/blues/everything-in-between singer is no different, though it takes a notable detour stylistically from many of her more recent albums. This is the most ballad-heavy release of hers to date, but they pack just as prominent a punch as the rapid-fire rockabilly-tinged romps that have formed her most memorable performances. They’re also the ultimate showcase for the magnificent reach of her enormous vocal range, which is absolutely spell-binding within the country-noir stylings of chilling tracks like “Baby You’re A Gun”, “I Can Forget”, and the biting title track. There are moments within these performances that find me regarding her as arguably the most expressive vocalist I may have ever heard. Her deliveries are that alarmingly great. The often-cited comparisons to similarly stylish powerhouses like KD Lang and Neko Case come to mind again here, and on the straight-up country of the Willie Nelson duet, “Beyond the Stars”, you’re left imagining this was what it would have sounded like if Patsy Cline had invited Nelson to join her in the studio on “Crazy”. However, like all of those aforementioned predecessors, Neilson possesses a sound and quality to her voice and music all her own, and it’s an awesome experience to behold. For those veteran Tami fans savoring a hit of her more fiery, rafter-shaking up-tempos, you’ll still find plenty of consolation in cuts like the zooming and bitchy “Mama’s Talkin'”, the swampy country-blues of the Bobbie Gentry-recalling “Green Peaches”, and the thunderous “Careless Woman”, which even finds her sprinkling some Hip-Hop leaning phrasing into her classic honky sound. All of these diverse stylings and touches make Kingmaker one of the most adventurous releases in both this year’s roots music scene and Neilson’s own catalog. But this is above and beyond anything a true singer’s album, and a stirring showcase of one of the truly singularly powerful and emotional vocalists in all of music.

Track Listing:

1. “Kingmaker” (Tami Neilson)
2. “Carless Woman” (Neilson)
3. “Baby, You’re A Gun” (Neilson, J. Neilson)
4. “King of Country Music” (Neilson)
5. “Beyond the Stars” featuring Willie Nelson (Neilson, Delaney Davidson)
6. “Green Peaches” (Neilson, Neilson)
7. “Mama’s Talkin'” (Neilson)
8. “I Can Forget” (Neilson, Neilson)
9. “The Grudge” (Neilson)
10. “Ain’t My Job” (Neilson)