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Diamonds in the
Dirt
is the exciting
new album by
British artist
Joanne Shaw
Taylor, a rising
star on the
international
blues scene. The
18 months since
the release of
her debut,
White Sugar,
have seen that
recording
receive a
nomination as
Best New Artist
Debut at the
2010 Blues Music
Awards, win Best
Female Vocalist
at the British
Blues Awards,
and become the
most successful
debut ever on
Ruf Records.
Taylor's latest
release reunites
her with
Grammy-winning
producer Jim
Gaines (Santana,
Stevie Ray
Vaughan) and the
same team of
studio pros that
made White
Sugar such
an infectious
pleasure.
Recorded at
Gaines' Bessie
Blue Studios in
rural Tennessee,
Diamonds
in the Dirt
offers 10
stellar,
all-original
cuts. It begins
with the
unexpected sound
of a lone
acoustic guitar
but soon shifts
into overdrive,
becoming a
dizzying display
of frenetic,
full-throttle
electric power.
Taylor recently
moved to the
U.S. and
attributes the
heavy sound of
Diamonds
in the Dirt
to her new
musical
environment – a
place
immortalized in
song as 'Detroit
Rock City.' "There's
a huge amount of
incredible bands
and musicians in
Detroit," says
Taylor of her
current home
base. "I'm sure
it's given me
new inspiration
and been part of
the reason for
the slightly
heavier sound on
this album."
Songs like
"Can't Keep
Living Like
This" and "Have
Mercy" showcase
a remarkable
range of
dynamics. Taylor
and her tight,
two-piece rhythm
section build
gradually upon
solid,
riff-driven
grooves. When
the moment
comes, the
guitarist
launches into
one of her
incendiary
solos. Often, as
on "Have Mercy,"
Taylor, drummer
Steve Potts and
bassist Dave
Smith explode
together in a
final,
breathtaking
climax.
It's not all
fireworks,
though.
"Diamonds in the
Dirt," a song
about the
process of
emotional
recovery, shows
off the softer,
more melodic
qualities in
Taylor's singing
and playing, as
well as her
willingness to
reveal and heal.
"Writing, for
me, is very
personal," she
says. "All the
songs on this
album are
autobiographical.
It's basically a
chance to put
thoughts and
fears to paper."
As tempting as
it was to try
and repeat the
success of
White Sugar,
so much has
changed in
Taylor's life
since then that
she never even
considered it.
Thus,
Diamonds
in the Dirt
is a fitting
step forward.
"I
wanted an album
that showed my
growth as a
musician and
person. I think
Diamonds
in the Dirt
is a good
snapshot of
where I am right
now as an artist
and a good
memoir of the
past two years."
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