By Phillip Smith
Don’t Explain is
what being a music junkie is all about. This is a collection of ten soulfully
retro-fitted songs featuring covers from Ray Charles, Billy Holiday, Etta James
and Aretha Franklin to name just a few. I
listen to a lot of music each year, and find many treasures, even so, I have to
say this collaboration from Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa surpasses most of
those. I love the way Beth Hart sings
with pure emotion while Bonamassa subtly backs her on guitar.
Sexy and sultry, Hart plays
the part of fallen angel on the first couple of tracks, as she covers Ray
Charles’ “Sinners Prayers” and Tom Waits’ “Chocolate Jesus”. Bonamassa brings a bit of spaghetti western
guitar to the table on ‘Chocolate Jesus’, creating an ominous environment,
contrasting Hart’s softly sung vocals and piano. I really like this one.
The Holy Grail song on this
album is ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’, originally by Etta James. The performance is unmistakably
phenomenal. With a string section in the
background, Hart sings with believability and conviction. Bonamassa takes over the bridge and picks out
the melody only the way Bonamassa could.
Another Etta cover, “Something’s Got a Hold on Me”, is also a lot of
fun. Although it’s got a gospel flavor
to it, I doubt anyone would ever hear this one played in church.
Fans of Bonamassa will dig the Bill Wither’s cover
of “For My Friends”. The riff is hard and fuzzy, and not hippie
friendly, like the original. I have to
give this album two thumbs up. One for
Beth Hart, and one for Joe Bonamassa.
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