Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
It cannot just be by chance that music producer Kevin Shirley aligns himself with some of the most fascinating and brilliant people within modern blues and they don’t come much more fantastic than Beth Hart or her new album Bang Bang Boom Boom.
Following on from her collaboration with the man who makes blues seem effortless and instinctive, Joe Bonamassa, for the 2011 album Don’t Explain and her simply stunning album, 2010’s My California, Ms. Hart has once more come up with songs that are musically strong and reveal another layer to her virtuoso performances both as writer of intense feeling and also as a vocalist. Her intonation and deep desire in her voice gets underneath your skin and tugs at every resistance you may possess until you give over to her demands.
Kevin Shirley knows a good thing when he hears it and it’s not for nothing that he has been involved in some of the best albums to be recorded in the last few years however his work on this album in particular seems to have bought out the very best in Ms. Hart. The depth of sound is off the scale and it complements the song writing of the woman of blues as never before. From the opening bars of Baddest Blues, Beth Hart has the voice and appeal of a siren, captivating and enchanting.
Although she might have arguably excellent competition from the young blues machine that is Joanne Shaw Taylor, Ms. Hart is more than capable in pushing her all the way. Whilst in the battle of this year’s albums by Ms. Hart and Ms. Taylor’s extraordinary Almost Always Never should see the Midlands lady win hands down, it is enough to know that the sultry and brimming with attitude approach by Ms. Hart is nothing short of graceful and refined.
Songs that cement her position as a force to be reckoned with are the superb title track, written alongside Rune Westberg, the very cool Swing My Thing Back Around and the wonderful The Ugliest House on the Block.
If nothing else, Bet Hart shows that she retains her poise and grace and is more than able to deliver an album in which she excels. However there is more to Beth Hart than that and the album gives a huge indication that this is one woman who will not take the competition from the U.K. lying down.
Ian D. Hall