Judging from a sneak preview of her forthcoming album, the angry young woman of acoustic pop appears to have found her niche at last. Gone are those starkly feminist, anarchist and multi-ist rants of the old Texas Campfire Tapes days. In their place appear some seriously clever roots-pop songs with messages delivered in a more subtle, but no less powerful manner. Arkansas Traveler (to be released at the end of this month) sees Shocked exploring the music of her roots, which in true Emmylou Harris style, means seeking out and playing with a selection of leading lights. On “33 RPM Soul,” for example, she is joined by Pops Staples for a hellishly commercial soul-pop song that has gospel oozing from every pore. “Come A Long Way,” her anthem to L.A., reminds you that the gal really can sing. It also contains the magic line, “all along the Watts Tower” and a chorus that puts paid to the chestnut that the devil has all the best tunes. As a live performer, Shocked has always generated high voltage electricity on stage and up to now she has always been better live than on record. After two plays of “Arkansas Traveler,” a long-time sceptic is in danger of turning into a fan.
Added to Library on February 23, 2022. (518)
Copyright-protected material on this website is used in accordance with 'Fair Use', for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis, and will be removed at the request of the copyright owner(s).