messin with a fool - Eliza Neals - New Release Review

I just received a new release by Eliza Neals, messin with a fool, and it has a definite, contemporary sound. The first thing that I like about it is that i can't really categorize it. It's a good sign that it doesn't sound like everything else (or a certain body of works). The recording opens with Misery, a R&B style track with with a 50's vibe. Tino Gross throws out a cool guitar riff on this track too! Neals has a voice comparable in quality with Bonnie Raitt but with stylistic approaches that are more power pop or punk. It sounds fresh and not overused. Man's Man is a simple stripped down rock song with bluesy singing but keeping it's edge. Lets say the Yeah Yeah Yeah's sing Stax. ESP is a cool track and the vocals are smoother and really lean toward soul and Bonnie Bramlett. The arrangement of the music remains uneven and interesting as opposed to predictable. Rather Go To Jail has a cool Latin feel but is more stylistic than bluesy. Rainin in Detroit is a solid blues ballad with phrasing that puts me in mind of Ricki Lee Jones but with a totally original voice an really nice guitar riff by Mike Smith to set off the vocals. Coming out of the gates on Berry Gordy's Money, Neals sounds terrific showing her vocal quality not unlike Brode Dalle on a classic track. I really like the sound of Neals voice on PiG (and I really like the overdriven sound of the basic guitar that accompanies her). The cd wraps with a simple ballad, Love Hurts More, over primarily acoustic guitar. This is a real strong track and a nice selection to complete an unusually cool cd.

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