Reviews roundup – Judy Collins vs. Melissa Etheridge vs. Shae vs. Siena Root vs. Spiders & Snakes
JUDY COLLINS
Both Sides Now: The Very Best Of
Wildflower
First things first. This isn’t actually a Best Of as such, despite the retro cover. What it is, is a compilation of songs that have been released on her own Wildlflower label over the last ten years or so. Which means you’re getting live and alternate versions of her classics, not the originals.
Second things second. I don’t mind that, as I find the older Judy Collins voice considerably more listenable than her younger self, with an added depth and richness to her sound. Over the ten years mentioned, Ms Collins has put out seven or eight albums including a smattering of live releases, so you’re getting 28 songs over 2 CDs, which is a lot of Judy for your money.
Add in three new songs in the shape of Neil Young’s ‘Helpless’, sung with Rachel Sage, a new version of ‘Oh Had I A Golden Thread’ and a cover of Jean Ritchie’s ‘One I Love’, along with takes on ‘Both Sides Now’, ‘Send In The Clowns’, ‘Diamonds and Rust’, ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ and many more, and this is about as good a Judy Collins compilation as you’ll get. Even if the Ian McShane version of ‘Both Sides Now’ remains the definitive take!
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
This Is M.E.
SPV
Now there’s a name I never expected to see on SPV. It came out at the end of last year in America on her own label, and still managed to get into the Billbaord Top 30. Not bad, considering it’s 27 years since the then 27 year old Melissa Etheridge released her debut album, winning a Grammy for Best Female Rock Performance for ‘Bring Me Some Water’.
And this does see a slight sonic shift on a few tracks thanks to some collaborations with producers Jerry “Wonda” and Roccstar, which sees her giving off an R&B vibe. But if that’s too big a step for some long time fans, and the drum loops may put some people off, then there are always the more traditional Melissa Etheridge songs like ‘A Little Hard Hearted’ and ‘Take My Number’, which carry on in her folk / country style, as if the intervening decades had never happened.
People who don’t like hip hip should probably programme out ‘Monster’ and ‘Ain’t That Bad’, but for someone who’s on their sixteenth (?) album, this is generally a job well done.
SHAE
Can You Feel The Music
Tarpan
At first I had no idea who Shae was. But then I read the bumph and realised that Shae was Shaeny Johnson, the lead singer in Craig Chaquico’s (Jefferson Starship) touring band. Which was a name I had seen over the years. But here she is signed to Tarpan Records, the label run by Narada Michael Walden, with an album of her own out.
But it’s certainly no Jefferson Starship, but then this is a young lady with a grounding in musical theatre productions at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and she’s young enough to still embrace pop music, so it’s no real surprise that this is a pop / dance hybrid. Albeit a rather good one.
For sure, not all of the songs work for me, but then I don’t really fall into the demigraphic that this is aimed at. But I do know a good voice when I hear one, as does the Whitney Houston producing Narada Michael Walden, and there is no doubt that Shae can sing. And sing good. If she was a wee bit older, you can imagine her working in a jazz environment, as there is a depth to her voice that really draws you in, and on the better songs, like ‘Have Faith’, you can hear a voice that should definitely go places.
SIENA ROOT
Pioneers
Cleopatra
Well after a hefty array of girl / woman power, it’s back to my roots with the latest record from the always splendid Siena Root. Because if you like a hefty slab of retro rock, then it doesn’t get much better than Swedens finest.
It’s been five years since their last offering, and even though nothing is worth waiting that long for, the amusingly entitled “Pioneers” comes close. I say amusing, because there is nothing pioneering about their work. Which is a good thing as far as I’m concerned, especially when it comes to a dose of Uriah Heep / early Deep Purple type seventies rock.
Add in a wee bit of Sabbath and you’ve got what could lazily be called stoner, but considering the departure of band leader K. G. West and vocalist Sanya, they’ve managed to put together an excellent set. It may not be quite as idiosyncratic as before, but as long as they punt out tunes as good as ‘7 Years’ and ‘The Way You Turn’, then there will be a place on my turntable for them.
SPIDERS & SNAKES
Year Of The Snake
Sansei
Finally, for today, dude, we’re off to Hollywood, baby! Because a million years ago, there was a band called London, who were only famous as a stopping off point for people who went on to bigger and better things. Gird yourself, because I’m about to drop some heavy names. Nikki Sixx, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler, Slash, Blackie Lawless and, um, Fred from Cinderella.
And Spiders & Snakes also included London alumni in the shape of Lizzie Grey and Tim Yasui, who refuse to believe that the eighties are over, and still strut their stuff up and down the Sunset Strip, regardless of bad hops and zimmers. Musically, it’s also still the eighties, so it’s that whole glam / sleaze metal thing that made my teenage years such a spandex watching pleasure.
This time around they’ve wheeled is some guests including Angelo Moore (Fishbone), Rik Fox (Steeler), the oddly placed Billy Sherwood (Yes) and the legend that is Betsy from Bitch (yes, Betsy from Bitch) to add their touch to sleaze rock gems like ‘Don’t Step Out’, ‘Crazy’, ‘Drive Me Crazy’ and a crack at the Young Rascals ‘I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore’.
It won’t win them any new fans, but I don’t think they care, because this is rock and roll.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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