Search - Shemekia Copeland :: The Soul Truth

Baring her soul, via vocal expression, is her remarkable tal

Tim Holek | 04/02/2006

(4 out of 5 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



"

A real smoker

Music maven | Amherst, MA | 12/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the recording I've been waiting for from Shemekia. Her previous two records were good, but the production was not up to snuff and the material was simplistic and deliberate. Here Steve Cropper gives her the background she needs, with a classic Stax sound and a lot of energy behind her. Her voice is so enormous that it takes a strong band and a sure hand behind the glass to properly support it, and Cropper provides it in spades. It's really refreshing to hear a band this good playing like they mean it--tight as a drum, and apparently having a blast playing together. The songs here are better than the last couple of records, too, but still not of the same caliber as her singing or the band's playing. It's my only regret with this CD. The style is just right, but the lyrics are superficial and a little too cute. Like most country music these days, they seem to be built around a clever turn of phrase in the chorus, but the cleverness is disposable and by the third chorus it's already stale (the only person who seems to be able to pull off this kind of thing properly is Delbert McClinton--the more you listen to his lyrics, the more true they seem). If she had the kind of songs that Bonnie Raitt has been choosing lately (check out her version of Randall Bramblett's "God was in the Water" if you want to hear real mastery of the lyric art, or better yet, listen to Randall's own recording, which has lots of other great stuff), this would be one for the ages. But even as it is, this is a record that I can recommend without reservation. Buy it without a second thought."

Disappointing followup

Mark R. Van Wagenen | Elgin, Illinois USA | 02/08/2006

(3 out of 5 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."