Post by "The Freq" on Nov 14, 2011 14:00:07 GMT -5
Yes, Catherine Taddo is back with a new CD entitled "Under the Hood" which once again is in the blues music style. Why you ask? I don't know. I truly believe Catherine is "not" a blues singer or blues writer and I feel someone is steering her in this direction where I personally think she shouldn't be. Of course, what do I know? I'm just an opinionated dumb dumb. Honestly, I bought her last album and this one and I was disappointed. You see, I use to watch her perform with the old Taddo band and within that material, she actually had some solid ground to stand on but ever since she titled herself the Queen of Blues, I cringe. Whoever is pumping her up to sing blues... stop it!!! If it's Catherine going in the blues direction....STOP IT!!!. When she was doing folk rock or just rock music, she had something there and I always thought she should stick with that. After listening to the new album there is something really common sounding about the music. What is it you ask? The musicians sound just like they do on other recordings you've heard from other local artists CDs. This is what happens when musicians play for themselves and not the music. I won't mention any names just because this is obviously what Catherine wants but I just find the album lacks edge or presence while rounding things out with the same flat sound. Of course, my tastes are always a bit extreme. ;-) I won't break down the songs on the CD as I feel it's up to you to buy it and decide if you like it or not. I will say that Catherine, like on her previous effort, sings ok but is pitchy on some tunes like the first song "Slow Train". I just can't relate her to blues music. What's sad is a majority of the material showcases more of the musicians than her actual vocals or song writing. I really hoped the new album would depart the blues "thang" but unfortunately, it's the same old same old routine. Recording quality seems a tad lifeless to my tastes but again, I'm always a bit extreme with sound. :-) Honestly,musician wise, it's like listening to a Big Wheel and the Spokes CD with a female singer. Time to move on Catherine. ;-)
I do hope on the next album Catherine re-invents herself as I just find she is venturing a path of music that has been written many times before and it's getting tired.
