Honestly, I was not intending to start my reviews with this album but an extended visit by the inlaws (in the bedroom next to my system) forced my late night listening over to my headphones and digital files. So I went for a hi-res digital download of Joan Osborne’s Bring It on Home (44.1/24). My initial hope was to start with her Early Recordings album but alas that will have to wait.
Osborne’s voice first struck me when watching the DVD Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Lots of power like Janis Joplin but combined with a bit more finesse as well as a touch of rasp. Also a voice that lurks in my brain with an association to some cheesy pop song played at weddings – not sure if that’s true but it speaks to a potential to go mainstream pop/R&B vs. something a bit more original and soulful.
For this album, which basically includes covers of various blues/soul songs, the opening tune “I don’t need no doctor” moves, grooves and for me is the strongest of the bunch. “Bring it on home” changes in tempo to a more bluesy style with Osborne’s voice taking on a more sultry tone, accompanied by cool riffs from the harmonica and bass guitar. Lack of liner notes with the digital downloads leaves no room for providing additional context (or information), but does prompt more attentive listening.
Skipping through my notes, I definitely tuned into the backing instruments: again the harmonica as well as piano, a tenor sax and Hammond B3 (??), a nice combo if I’ve identified them correctly. Her cover of Bill Wither’s “The same love that made me want to laugh” would be great if Bill Withers hadn’t already done the song (a tough act to follow, which raises the perpetual question of trying to cover existing excellence). “Shake,” a song which takes on a cowboy, honky-tonk twang was probably my least favorite and even had me itching for the remote, but I persisted. “I’m qualified” would be a good close as it brings back the drive that opened the album, however from thereon, including the appended bonus tracks, it’s increasingly unable to close with a bang. (What is it about bonus tracks these days… it’s not really a space issue... is it a quality/making the grade issue?)
While this isn’t an over the top rave review, the album is still good and has decent sonic merit – not overly lush, maybe a touch dry but accurate recording and reproduction. Where it suffers is from my expectation of wanting something like Early Recordings. Granted Recordings includes live performances, which benefit from a great combination of energy and good tunes that carries through the entire album. Bring It on Home has its gems in a few tracks as well as the backing band, but by comparison doesn’t get it all the way home.
Rating: So I’ll give it 5 nods of the head on my ten point scale.
Source: Digital download (44.1kHz/24bit) [note: does not include liner notes]
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