Toshi Reagon rocks on
Toshi, a tight collection of stripped-to-the-bone tracks that go for the throat straight from the heart. Borrowing
the Kinks' eternally classic "You Really Got Me" riff on the opening cut "Oh No No,"
Reagon kicks into high gear, detailing the trials of love and fidelity with melody and fervor. Though the lyrics are laden with passion and angst, the album is an uptempo affair, bolstered via a strong backbeat and
Reagon's patented vocal style, which melds blues, soul, gospel, and R&B. Her folk roots emerge in "Big Love," a poignant cut embellished by
Catherine Russell on mandolin and bassist
Fred Cash, who's upper-register counterpoint provides the perfect foil to
Reagon's phrasing. "Ballad of the Broken Word" is a tasteful blues dirge abetted by a cadre of sultry backing vocals and acid guitar leads aplenty. But the kicker is a ballad rendering of
the Cars' old hit "Just What I Needed," a duet with
Marc Anthony Thompson, who does his best imitation of
Leonard Cohen. Another strong outing by an artist who improves with each new release. ~ Tom Semioli