Gracie Curran & Friends Come Undone

Gracie Curran & Friends
Come Undone
VizzTone

Originally from Boston but now living in Memphis, "Come Undone" is singer and songwriter Gracie Curran's second release. Her first album, 'Proof of Love," was nominated for a Blues Music Award as Best New Artist Debut. She co-produced this new release with Damon Fowler who plays guitar on it — also playing on this Matt Walker on guitar, bass and Wurlitzer; Pat Harrington on guitar on the first track; Victor Wainwright and Jeremy Powell each playing on keyboards for two of the eight tunes; Doug Woolverton on trumpet; Mark Earley on sax; and Reba Russell on backing vocals.

Some of the publicity material compare her vocals to that of Mavis Staples. I would not go quite that far, but she certainly impresses the listener on the title track, which is a very appealing serving of Memphis soul with a reggae accent. In contrast, "Ernestine" is a folk-roots styled performance with Reba Russell complementing her country-flavored singing. "Stay Up!" is a jump-style party blues with plenty of swagger in her vocal with a crisp guitar solo and the horns doing a call and response with each other. Trebly guitar adds to the atmosphere to her insistent vocal on "The Things We Like" as she sings about not wanting to but having to let one go.

"Sweet Sativa" is a blues about marijuana with stinging slide guitar (could be lap steel guitar) taken at loping tempo. "If Mama Ain't Happy" is a rocking blues with some outstanding piano from Wainwright and a brief, crisp guitar solo. Perhaps the most outstanding song is a soulful ballad, "Love Is The Cruelest Thing I Know," It shows how nuanced a singer she is and how convincing she is with the restraint exhibited here. The closing track "Chasing Sunset" shits gears to a delightful country roots rocker.

The strength of Gracie Curran's performances is that while she can belt out a lyric, she focuses more on timing, phrasing, and vocal dynamics. The songs were fascinating, and the backing excellent. The only fault might be the eight songs only last a little over a half-hour. There are no complaints about the actual music heard on a very notable album.

I received my review copy from VizzTone. Here is a performance of "Come Undone."