“Nobody’s Fool”
Blues icon Joanne Shaw Taylor with a pop rock sound
The cover of British blues-rock guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor’s album Nobody’s Fool. photo
© Chris Wilson/Ktba Records/Rough Trade/dpa
She is one of the most popular blues musicians of our time. On her new album, however, Joanne Shaw Taylor performs less blues and more pop rock – with prominent support.
Joanne Shaw Taylor was just 16 years old when she was discovered by Eurythmics mastermind Dave Stewart. The Brit from the West Midlands is not only blessed with a powerful soulful voice, but Taylor is also an accomplished guitarist. Now the musician, who has specialized in contemporary blues, is releasing her ninth studio album – and in doing so she is breaking new ground. “Nobody’s Fool” is out now on vinyl.
Having recently released an entire album of blues covers, the 37-year-old delivers a slightly broader sound on “Nobody’s Fool” that could be described as timeless guitar pop. Striking synth sounds are also allowed. They are radio-ready, but still down-to-earth songs with a rock’n’roll attitude – sometimes moody pop (“Nobody’s Fool”, “New Love”), sometimes bluesy (“Bad Blood”, “Then There’s You”) and sometimes fast-paced with powerful guitar riffs (“Figure It Out”). Some catchy tunes are among them.
Taylor has interesting guests on her album. Cellist Tina Guo, who is a regular guest on soundtracks by film composer Hans Zimmer (“Inception”) and also shares the stage with Zimmer at his concerts, gives the ballad “Fade Away” something melancholy. Joe Bonamassa makes a guest appearance on “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” a summery pop song with an ’80s vibe (not to be confused with The Who’s classic of the same name). The guitar god, who just strums the strings and doesn’t sing, is also co-producing the album with blues icon Josh Smith.
Taylor’s discoverer Stewart is also on board, and even with a Eurythmics song. When the single “Missionary Man” was originally released in 1986, Taylor was just one year old. Back then, Annie Lennox sang the song with her usual androgynous Eurythmics coolness, Joanne Shaw Taylor now sings it with a lot of soul in her voice, and instead of a harmonica solo, the slide guitar croaks – a successful cover version.
Recorded in Los Angeles, Nobody’s Fool, like previous albums, lives on in Joanne Shaw Taylor’s distinctive voice. The guitar comes second. The album’s trick is that the singer, guitarist and songwriter makes her songs appealing to a wider audience without straying too far from her blues-loving fan base. But this album can’t be as thrilling as the Briton comes across on stage at her concerts.