RORY BLOCK
I'm Every Woman (Rounder)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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There's litle about the opening cut of this disc, a brief instrumental titled "Guitar Ditty," to suggest that there's anything here but more of the terrific singing and playing that has made Rory Block one of the frontrunners in the acoustic blues revival. Before two minutes have passed, though, she's into a rootsy version of the Chaka Khan disco hit the album's named for and Rory Block is laying claim to the ownership of a whole new genre. She continues to do so throughout the remaining tracks, covering Memphis soul, Motown pop, backwoods gospel and, of course, a healthy dose of country blues.

She proves unafraid to recruit genre-busting partners in the enterprise, enlisting no less a country blues icon than Keb' Mo' (is Keb' Mo' the male Rory Block or is Rory Block the female Keb' Mo'?) to join her in recreating the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrel classic "Ain't Nothin' Like The Real Thing." If she's been compartmentalized in the past, with the release of I'm Every Woman Rory Block establishes that the only category that can hold her is terrific music. This is an album full of just that.

Track List:

Guitar Ditty * I'm Every Woman * Fool For You * Sea Lion Woman * Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down * Tired Of Being Alone * Love TKO * Rock Island Line * Talkin' 'Bout My Man * Ain't Nothin' Like The Real Thing * Pretty Polly * Hold On/Change Is Coming * I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home * Guitar Ditty

© 2002 - Shaun Dale