[rating=7.00]
As a follow up to her last album, the boldly titled Don’t Be Afraid, Canada’ singer and songwriter Tami Neilson continues to procure a distinctive sound that’s bold, brassy and flush with an assertive ability. That allowed her to make her mark in her adopted home of New Zealand and now promises to bring her wider acclaim. Her third album out, Sassafrass! finds her showing her mettle with a Latin groove, and songs such as “Bananas” and “Diamond Ring” betray the cool confidence betrayed by her earlier efforts.
That said, Neilson shows the kind of savvy that allows her to vary her template while keeping it all in context. The blues and barbs instilled in “A Woman’s Pain” reveals a sultry style that reflects a caustic attitude that elevates this tale of woe into a tower of triumph. The horn-infused “Devil in a Dress” is sinister in a similar kind of way, although Neilson is clearly espousing an upbeat intent.
And so it goes, from the soulful sway of “One Thought Of You” to the ricochet rhythms, playfully persistent “Miss Jones” and the exceedingly soulful album closer “Good Man,” testimony most men would find most quite welcome in this era of sexual outrage and I’m with her.
In Neilson’s case, emotion and intent go hand in hand. While Sassafrass! may suggest that there’s a lot of levity is involved, it’s also another apt showcase for singer and stylist who is unafraid to borrow the vintage trappings suited to a certified chanteuse and one with the ability to take those lessons of the past and put the music in a contemporary context. Sassafrass! is one of those extraordinary albums that’s both tender and tenacious, a triumph in every regard and further indication that Neilson is well on her way.
