 Eleni
Mandell, Thrill (Space Baby Records 2000) - Indie darling Eleni Mandell returns with her second release,
Thrill. Featuring Eleni's sultry and seductive voice, the album showcases the vocal intensity that made
Wishbone (1998) a critic's favorite.
While she sites Tom Waits and X as influences, Eleni's
her own woman. "He Thinks He's in Love" has a seductive beauty; "Never Know the Party's Here"
shows that Eleni knows the samba; and "1970 Red Chevelle" (the album's best cut) is a rave-up rocker.
 The new
album was produced and engineered by Brian Keahew, and includes Eleni on vocals and guitar, Sheldon
Gombarg on upright and electric bass, Danny Frankel on drums, and Brian Keahew
and Dan Seta on electric guitar, with appearances from Michael Bolger on trumpet
and trombone and J'anna Jacoby on viola.
 Part chartreuse
("Moment That You Had"), part Liz Phair college-educated
bad girl ("Taking You Out"), part Tori Amos sex goddess
("Pauline"), Eleni Mandell has a voice that aches to be heard. Add in percussive textures and Middle
Eastern influences and you come up with an entrancing whole from this Los Angeles resident. Don't overlook Thrill.
For more information, contact:
Space Baby Music
1939 North Kenmore Ave., Suite 104
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone 323/663-4082
 Etta
James, Matriarch of the Blues (Windham Hill 2000) - Here's the real
deal from a singer with plenty of heart. Etta James, a member of the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame, cuts loose on Matriarch of the Blues, a 12-track collection of new and classic
blues/pop songs.
Ms. James' recording career stretches back to 1955,
and has etched her influence on such diverse artists as the Rolling Stones,
Tina Turner, and Rod
Stewart. On Matriarch of the Blues, Etta ranges from the boogie swing on "Born on the Bayou"
to the barrelhouse swing of "Hound Dog" to the tears-in-my-coffee blues of "Comeback Baby"
and the Otis Redding classic, "Try a Little Tenderness."
 Matriarch
of the Blues was produced by Etta's sons, Donto James and Sametto James.
Etta is surrounded by rock-steady studio hands, including Donto
on drums, Sametto on bass, Josh Sklair and Bobby Murray on guitars, Lee
R. Thornburg and Tom Poole on trumpet, David K. Matthews on piano, Mike
Finnigan on Hammond B3 organ, and Jimmy Z. Zavala on tenor and baritone sax.
 The band
gets deep in the pocket with Etta, which gives the singer
an opportunity to strut her stuff. The strongest track is the Bob
Dylan song, "Gotta Serve Somebody," on which Etta digs deep into her bag of tricks. And the 62-year-old
diva brings a soulful touch to the proceedings with her cover of the Rolling Stones' No. 1 hit, "Miss You."
Matriarch of the Blues highlights what's missing on Willie Nelson's
recent Milk Cow Blues - you can't sing the blues unless you have them in your heart. Etta James goes for
the heart on Matriarch of the Blues.
 Moby,
Play: The B-Sides (V2 Records 2000) - On the heels of the brilliant
Play, V2 Records has issued a limited-edition box set, containing the platinum-selling album, together
with a full CD of B sides and alternate versions made during the recording of Play. Save your shekels
- while The B-Sides contain the ambient flavor of the parent disc, fans will be disappointed.
 Play was
a glorious album, a fusion of rock, techno, and street beats.
Moby walks the talk, and built his success by grassroots efforts, not hype. Yet the performer has not steered an
even course; earlier efforts vary widely.
Moby has nothing to prove with the new collection. Explains the artist,
"The B-Sides is a collection of songs that weren't quite appropriate for Play, but that
I still love enough to release as B-sides. Some of these songs might not be instantly accessible, but I (immodestly)
think they are all quite special."
 A few tracks have
a cool groove, like "Memory Gospel" and "Sun Spot."
What's disappointing is that The B-Sides are available only as part of the two-disk set (paired with Play).
Loyal fans should not be forced to buy both albums just to get The B-Sides.
- Randy Krbechek © 2001
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