Shine

This is the first and quite overdue recording with Nancy Apple backed by a band, showing her native Memphis roots in rock & roll, folk-blues, and country styles. Recorded at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis by veteran Keith Sykes, Apple and her band tear up this program of her originals and three covers with a lot of enthusiasm, and very little regret. Apple sings pretty tough, and plays spare guitar, harmonica, or accordion in the rural roadhouse tradition, with only a modicum of regret. While folk stylings are hinted at, she's far from anchored to them on any level. Old-school rock à ala Jerry Lee Lewis on "Elvis Loved His Mama," "Rockin' Granny," or the Sykes tune "B.I.G.T.I.M.E." parallel to "Summertime Blues" is at the core of Apple's heart. But lonesome blues during "Table for Two" and "The Sun Will Always Shine" assuredly are songs that are closer to her soul. "Voodoo Woman" might be a signature tune with its harder edge as Apple sings about getting what she wants alongside the harmonica of Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms, while covers of Jesse Mae Robinson's "Lets' Have a Party" and the Tex-Mex flavor of Ronnie Elliott's "Creole Boy with A Spanish Guitar" are alternately in a get-down or even romanticized mood. While Apple has a lot going on, it is Sykes that brings out the best on this recording that should wake up the industry to her vast potential as one of the better new rock artists from the distaff side. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi