Her first album of new material since 2001's "Away From the Light" this is a wonderful collection of songs, beautifully performed and expertly set by producer Allen Toussaint.
Worthy and entertaining as the three albums of blues standards that made up the "Songs Of The South" collection released at two year intervals during the intervening years were, this album sees Joplin returning to what she does best and proves what a tremendous ear she has for songs that will fit her voice.
The standout track is the cover of Foo Fighters' "All My Life", which is slowed down and rendered as a lost delta blues song. The achingly beautiful guitar line echoes and shadows Joplin's voice as she swoops and dives in and around the melody. It's a thing of peculiar and rare beauty.
Elsewhere there are songs contributed by Elvis Costello, Alison Krauss, Suzanne Vega and Ry Cooder. To each of them Joplin brings that familiar earthy voice, alternating between a throaty whisper and a china wrecking full-on bellow.
It's possible that the trio of blues covers albums were a part of exorcising her (well documented) past and now, having seemingly defeated here demons and found domestic happiness, she's now ready to let the voice (rather than the song choice) do the talking.
The only low point is the ill conceived cover of The Wu Tang Clan's "Gravel Pit" where she is happy to take a back seat and provide only minimal voals on the chorus while Method Man and GZA take the spotlight.
A worthwhile addition to her catalogue now ranging over more than forty years. Janis is back in control.
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