Shemekia Copeland - The Soul Truth
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Free Music Notes for The Soul Truth
Free Music Review: Love that girl!
Hit: 5 Stars
Shemekia IS the reigning queen of the Blues! She remains unparalleled since her debut album. I love Everything she does!
Free Music Review: Fabulous CD
Hit: 5 Stars
This is my first Shemekia CD and I am already looking for another one.
Free Music Review: ALMOST (but not quite) as good as seeing her live
Hit: 5 Stars
Okay, NOTHING beats seeing Shemekia live actually, but this is, so far, the best disc she's done (IMHO). Soulful and catchy (many are permanently lodged in my head) this disc really delivers. The lyrics can be facile, but Shemekia's singing more than makes up for any minor flaws. Every disc has gotten better and better, so I can't wait to see what she'll do next.
(Seriously, see her live if you have the chance--you will never regret it!)
Free Music Review: Baring her soul, via vocal expression, is her remarkable talent
Hit: 4 Stars
SHEMEKIA COPELAND
The Soul Truth
Alligator ALCD 4905
At 26, Harlem, New York's Shemekia Copeland has already had a lifetime worth of awards. By the time she was 16, she had joined her father, Johnny Clyde Copeland, on his tours. Since her unforgettable debut in 1998, she has received accolades everywhere. Her fourth release was fashioned by Steve Cropper, legendary Stax guitarist/songwriter/producer. He contributes the same three skills for Copeland and the result is magnificent. Together, they have selected the most robust songs of her career. How could you go wrong with songs written by the likes of Cropper, Gary Nicholson, Fred James, Tom Hambridge, and Eddie Hinton? There are no screeching guitar solos, just good time music played by an adept band with Memphis grooves, stirring lyrics, and those explosive vocals.
A hefty guitar grabs you and pulls you into the upbeat lead off number "Breakin' Out", which is exemplified by blasting horns. A combination of funk, soul, and rock `n' roll is heard on "Who Stole My Radio?", but not on FM airwaves these days. The lyrics describe why most of us turned off the radio years ago. Ironically and quite purposely, the melody is extremely radio friendly. "All About You" is regarding being in love with yourself as detailed in lyrics like ("You could almost break your own heart / If you could / you'd hold your own hand / I can tell we're all through coz I can never love you half as much as you do"). Here, Chuck Leavell's vibrant keys tingle your backbone. "Better Not Touch" reveals it's OK if the eyes stray, but a powerful warning is given to keep the hands at bay. The danceable "Givin' Up You" gives up the funk, while old time soul music is given resurgence during "Poor, Poor Excuse". Baring her soul, via vocal expression, is a remarkable talent that Copeland possesses. Miraculously, her vocals can sound sweet, mean, tender, and tough - all at the same time. Superior vocal performances appear on two spine-shivering songs, which are both worthy of being Song Of The Year. She begs and pleads, for a bittersweet predicament to end, on the emotionally exhausting "Strong Enough". Hollywood is going to come knocking for the ballad "Used", which contains a beautiful duet with Dobie Gray. Here, Copeland's affectionate voice acts as the conscience of a generation.
Yes, the horns do add polish, but some gnarling exists in the vocals and guitars. As implied by the disc's title, don't expect to hear a lot of blues. On The Soul Truth, Copeland crosses the line and transforms into a distinguished icon.
--- Tim Holek
Free Music Review: Disappointing followup
Hit: 3 Stars
Shemekia Copeland suffered from some uneven songwriting and ameteurish production in her early CDs, which were rectified in her breakout CD "Talking to Strangers". However, she overshot that optimal point with "The Soul Truth", which comes across mostly as a big band-driven ego trip; examples include "Better Not Touch" and "Givin' Up You". "Who Stole My Radio"'s theme of bland radio was covered much better by Tom Petty earlier. "Uptown Line" is a weird pseudo-rap tune. The horns and backgroud vocals are a little too much. Some of the tracks are good, including her duet with Dobie Gray ("Used") and the last track, the acoustic "Something Heavy". No question the woman can sing, and producer Steve Cropper also plays a mean guitar, but this album will disappoint blues and Shemekia Copeland fans. She needs to get back to her roots lest she become just another diva.
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