REVIEW: Alana Davis, Blame It On Me (Elektra)
- Jon Steltenpohl
Born and raised in Greenwich Village, Alana Davis has the lineage of a contender. Not only was she born in the right place for a musician, but her father is a jazz pianist and her mother a singer. Along with producer and musical partner Ed Tuton, Davis has crafted a style that has a danceable beat, an easy feel, and a lot of acoustic touches.
Her bio cites Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell as influences, and somehow, both are evident. From Wonder, Davis adopts a vocal style that is spellbinding. She bends and folds notes like vocal origami. Phrases aren't just notes to be sung; Davis caresses and shapes each line into a unique work. From Joni Mitchell, she borrows a commanding presence. Davis sings each song with heart-felt confidence. There's no hesitation, and she sounds like a woman who knows what she's doing.
Blame It On Me opens with "32 Flavors." The song is a cover of the Ani DiFranco song. Not only does it open the album, but it is also the first single to be released. Depending on your point of view, this is either a brilliant career move or complete and total sacrilege. Certainly, on first listen, the track, an anthem of individualism written by one of the most independent artists of the decade, seems a cheap ploy that's steeped in irony. Dig a little deeper into the album though, and Davis shows that she's not a Tiffany wannabe. Instead, Blame It On Me is an infectious debut of organic, funky music that is smooth and soothing. After a few listens to the whole album, "32 Flavors" proves itself to be just one of the 12 excellent tracks on this album. It's not as good as DiFranco's original, but it holds its own.
While a cover of a DiFranco song might suggest in-your-face lyrics, Davis doesn't really have any axes to grind. (And it's unfortunate that the cover forces the comparison.) In one of the album's best songs, "Crazy", she justifies her individuality. Explains Davis, "So the way that I act may not fit in / Just because I've got a mind of my own / Doesn't mean it's a sin / I don't ask you to give up / Don't expect me to give in."
Most of the songs are about strained relationships, and "Love and Pride" is the only love song on the album. "So you say that you ain't got money / Well I don't care / Cause I'm so in love with you honey / What I got I'll share" isn't the most original lyric in the world, but it's still nice. "Love and Pride" is about the plain old joy of being in love. Davis' emotions just bubble over, and her enthusiasm makes it work.
Some of the songs fall into the "life is hard in this crazy world" category. In "Murder", she paints all of the things that go bump in the night with a paranoid brush. "I could be bugging," Davis sings, "but I'd gladly swear I just heard a body hit the floor." The lyrics to "Murder" are a bit hokey, but fortunately, the spooky acoustic guitar and Davis' sultry vocals make up for average lyrics.
And it's really the musical touches that make this album so good. If every song was in a foreign language, Blame It On Me would still be a pleasure. Davis and Tuton have a little musical masterpiece on their hands. There's a little bit of the promise of Lisa Stansfield and Sade here. Like those artists, Davis manages to mix R&B, jazz, and dance into a more perfect union. But unlike them, she manages to sound completely raw and earthy like someone stirred in a pinch of Tina Turner and dash of Tracy Chapman. The overall effect is reminiscent of the albums by Prince's old band mates Wendy and Lisa.
Blame It On Me is an impressive debut by a very talented performer. The lyrics don't always make a gut-level impact. But, to be fair, not every album has to be an emotional roller coaster, and Davis seems more interested in making great music rather than making a philosophical point. Indeed, Davis relies on an unsurpassed musical ability, and you can't help but be drawn into her seductive vocals. Tuton's production is impeccable, and even the quiet songs are danceable. In the end, Blame It On Me takes a style normally shoved aside to VH-1, and takes it to level that anyone can enjoy.
