Boom Boom Pow! (Love Tattoo - Imelda May)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	Love Tattoo - Imelda May
Date:	23/10/09 (189 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Truly great album.

Disadvantages: Not well known enough.

Love Tattoo

Imelda May (2008)

Well, this is not generally my genre of music however, this woman's voice and the freaky cool nature of the songs have taken me a little by storm. Those that read my reviews (thank you) know that I often only download one or two tracks from an album; this album, like The King Blues, has been downloaded in its entirety.

Her genre is Rockabilly, though not in the old sense, but in a more, hip new way. Interestingly, iTunes lists the genre as 'blues'...na, don't think so!

She has a jazz and swing background which shine through in some of the numbers and I suppose that is what drew me to her, that and the fact that when I first heard 'Big, Bad, Handsome man' I was reminded, somehow of Tarantino movies, yep, she is that cool.

A Dubliner, no hint of accent in her vocals and correct me if I am wrong but I do not know of another Irish rockabilly singer or band. Feted by Jools Holland and you will understand why when you hear some of these tracks which fit very nicely with Mr Hollands style of piano playing.

I should state before I go any further, I am writing this review in a style that pleases me, as there are certain individuals that insist on giving me no more than a 'useful' rating whatever I write, however I write it, so you know what? I don't care!

The album opens with a very risqué number entitled 'Johnny got a Boom Boom', it has many meanings depending on what you are listening for, but to me it is pretty obvious what she is singing about. The beat is infectious, loud, foot tapping and raucous. A real rock and roll beat with each vocal phrase punctuated by symbols and drums and a guitar beat strums relentlessly throughout. The vocal is deep for a woman and sounds smokey, sexy and harsh all at once. Brilliant opener that sets the scene for a great album.

Track 2 (Feel Me) sees her vocal and the music get much jazzier and even has a hint of Latin, a wicked piano solo and again, that foot stomping rhythm, aided by some competent drumming, this album is a party all on its own make no mistake.

The third track ( Knock 123) again has a jazzy feel, but much more 'jazz lounge', her vocal here is meltingly good and similar to many jazz greats in that ability to make one sit back and just take it in. I should add that by this track on the first listen of the whole album I had fallen in love with her!

Moving on to track 4 (Wild About My Lovin') is pure hillbilly rockabilly a la early Elvis, not as fast as I would like for a song of this ilk, but quite fun, probably one of the weaker tracks, but passable none the less.

Big, Bad, Handsome Man at track 5 just blows me away every time I hear it; the mad trumpet, the infectious guitar and drums, the way she sings in a completely convincing way. The lyrics are fabulous and hark back to a day when women were submissive to the whims of strong men, somewhat un pc, but fun all the same. The trumpet punctuates every verse and chorus in a way that serves to give it a feel of New Orleans mixed with swing and jazz and boogie woogie all at once. This track is an absolute stunner, if you only download one track, make it this one.

Love Tattoo (track 6) the title track is everything that the previous track was and more, it is fast and furious, I love the gruffness of her vocals here. In truth, this is what she does best, sings this sort of song, not to everyone's taste I will concede, but pure fun.

Track 7 (Meet You at The Moon) sees Imelda slow it down for another jazz lounge number, if possible even more sultry than before, OMG I have so fallen for her voice, beautiful in a Melody Gardot kind of way.

Track 8, Smokers Song starts with a great run up and down the bass (cello to some, lol) which is often a signature of both jazz and early rock n roll songs. She really goes to town in parts of this song and is only outdone by the superb piano.

For track 9 (Smothering Me) think Jools Holland, think Chuck Berry, think early rock n roll mixed in with boogie woogie piano, fast and fun, good stuff to get bopping around the living room to.

Track 10, 'Falling in Love With You Again' is from that jazz lounge tradition again, yet has a much more contemporary feel. Very controlled and sultry with a simple lyrical composition, reminds me a bit of Colbie Caillat or Lenka, very now, could be the backing track for a sweet TV advert, lol. It is shallow, yet I really like it, sweet.

Okay, nearly to the end and we get track number 11 (Is Your Voodoo Working), OMG what a great track, very much like track 5 in that it is rockabilly jazz again, it also has a touch of the blues. What I like about this track is that she seems to 'give in' to the music (some great solos here on organ, drums and guitar) as in essence it is musically the best track on the album, very complex, yet her simple vocals complement that brilliantly.

Last track, very important as the opener was a stunner, the start of 'Watcha Gonna Do?' is a clunky piano, then she comes in all guns blazing with a very staccato vocal and that trumpet again, only this time no attempt to hide a Latin influence. Great close to an album.


~~~Final Thoughts~~~

This is one of those albums that goes largely undetected by general listening public, and what a shame for it is fantastic in every way, five stars without a doubt. This Irish vocalist is set for big things I guarantee it.

If her songs feature in a future Tarantino film, where they would fit perfectly, she will make it and be in everyone's CD collection.

Quite simply a big bad handsome CD.

Summary: Irish Rockabilly.