Search - Carolyn Wonderland :: Miss Understood

Blues-rock/Americana - Carolyn Wonderland delivers ........

Colin Spence | Formby, UK | 12/04/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Carolyn Wonderland is a new name to me. She's an oldskool blues-rocker with a muscular vocal style lying somewhere between Jonell Mosser and Janis Joplin. Carolyn plays lead guitar on many tracks, and boy can she play - she doesn't miss a lick! The supporting musicians are new to me as well - except drummer Jamie Oldaker and Cindy Cashdollar who plays dobro on 'The Farmer Song'. I'm assuming that some of the musicians are from her road band - their playing is tight, together, and very much on Carolyn's wavelength. The album was produced, recorded and mixed in Austin, Texas - which, more or less, says it all.



Just reading a little bit about the lady, she is sometimes referred to as a blues singer; I wouldn't describe the music on this album as 'blues', although it is very 'bluesy' at times. Much of the time, Carolyn rocks - and rocks hard; but there are a few songs of a more subdued nature. Most of the songs are originals written/co-written by Carolyn and/or the band members; there are 2 covers of songs originally performed by Rick Derringer/Johnny Winter and J J Cale, and 3 covers of songs written and performed by other Texas-based artists (Terri Hendrix and Bruce Robison). Some brief comments about my favourite tunes :



MISUNDERSTOOD (Carolyn Wonderland) - terrific opener with a backbeat guaranteed to get your foot tapping and your hips swaying, Carolyn plays lap steel - including a 1 minute solo.



I FOUND THE LIONS (Terri Hendrix/Lloyd Maines) - mid-tempo rocker with a funky horn/sax arrangement.



TROUBLE IN THE CITY (J J Cale) - a new lease of life for this song; it's another one which grooves on the backbeat, check out the rolling piano too.



THROW MY LOVE (Terri Hendrix) - great blues-rock with some tasty electric guitar playing from Carolyn, and she belts out the vocals like there was no tomorrow.



FEED ME TO THE LIONS (Carolyn Wonderland) - haven't a clue what genre this song belongs to, it's a little bit quirky in style and structure; swirling strings plus electric piano (no other instruments are played).





As with most albums that I buy, there are 2 maybe 3 tracks that I will probably skip; but nevertheless, 'Miss Understood' is a solid album of high-octane music from a multi-talented artist and accomplished musicians."

Brilliant

Uselessgoo | Austin, TX | 11/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Miss Understood is the album of the year. Every song is powerful and her voice just gives me shivers she is so good. If you get a chance to see her live GO!"