JANIVA MAGNESS - The Devil is an Angel Too
(Alligator Records)
Three time winner of the Contemporary Blues Female Award from the Blues Foundation in 2006, 2007 and the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award in 2009, Janiva Magness has just released The Devil is an Angel Too. Her music, always sung with passion, conviction and soul, has offered yet one more showcase of her glorious voice. She has once more reached into the depths of her soul to bring an emotionally charged CD that is packed full with earthy songs that delivers her type of blues. Something is distinctively different this time. Magness has tossed in a heavy dose of R&B. Her band is tight and provides a great sound but it is her voice that is always front and center. Her songs talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. She takes an audience to the rawest nerve of a thought, unwraps the honestly of life's situations and then brings the listener back with a soaring, enriched expose on life's choices.
There is a reason why Janiva Magness has won so many blues awards in recent years. The woman is a powerhouse and has been recently dubbed, "Queen of the blues." In the title song, The Devil is an Angel," her voice was extremely sultry while exposing her bare knuckled honesty. "You look just like an angel, you seem so sweet...haven't I seen you before, heart ache at my door." The story builds and the music goes from a deliberately slow lamentation and reels into a funky upbeat melody that entertains, chastises, yet has the realization of life's desires. "Walking in the Sun" began with a melancholy guitar introduction and again turned into a funky beat about life gone wrong. The words, "...things been goin' wrong for long enough that I know when things are going right " and "I've been losin' enough to know....even a blind man knows when he's walkin' in the sun." Wise words, wonderful music. "I Want a Love" was well orchestrated. The music was ceremoniously kept low in the background to showcase that rich voice. It was an upbeat and toe tapping song that made you want to hear more. ...and this was just a "taste" of what this woman dishes up to you on this CD. Got a "craving" for rich, heartfelt blues...listen to Janiva!
