miss tess - elmore magazine (1)
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95Artist: Miss TessAlbum: Baby, We All KnowLabel: Rights RecordsRelease Date: 07/08/2016
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Miss TessBaby, We All KnowAlbum Reviews | August 9th, 2016
Miss Tess grew up in rural Maryland andwas raised on the American folk and1930’s swing that her parents, bothmusicians, played at home. Later shestudied jazz and blues, including a stint atThe Berklee College of Music. Tess drawsas much from Patsy Cline as from Howlin’Wolf as well as the pop and punk shelistened to growing up in the 1980’s. Todayshe plays her own brand of Americanawith her swinging band The Talkbacks,featuring guitar ace Thomas Bryan Eaton.
Tess recently relocated to Nashville,Tennessee where she recorded her latestrelease, Baby We All Know. On this disc shebrought in producer Dan Knobler (RodneyCrowell, Tift Merritt) as well as top sessionplayers who help round out her sound.The album immediately kicks into high gear with the feel good shuffle of “Ride ThatTrain.” Tasty background vocals punctuate this country swinger along with fantastic
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piano work by John Pahmer. Though Mr.Eaton usually fills the role of lead guitarist,Miss Tess is also a talented player and knows how to coax classic tones from her rareWeymann archtop guitar. On “Little Lola” Mr.Eaton lays down thick, swampy chordsreminiscent of CCR’s “Born On The Bayou” thanks to throbbing tremolo. With its catchychorus and gritty riffs, “I Can’t Help Myself” is a standout track that really rocks.Stinging solos by Mr.Eaton bring to mind B.B.King via Eric Clapton, and Stefan Zeniukgets down and dirty on baritone sax. “Do You Want My Love” is a pop ballad rich withromantic longing, and “Shotgun Wedding” gets back to raw rockabilly with the question“How’d you like to have a shotgun wedding?” Surely a warning for careless lovers.“Take You Break You Shake You” grooves with a sultry feel that would make Tom Waitsproud, while the chiming pedal steel guitars and hillbilly fiddles of “Moonshiner” showsTess’s deep feel for country music. There are 11 tunes total on this prodigious platter,each song strong. Tess’s knowledge of genre is in full effect and with this solid crew ofmusicians, we get an overview of what makes American roots music so great.
Miss Tess clearly understands the power of tight structure and the importanceof involving the listener via irresistible choruses. One can’t avoid getting caught up inthe call and response fun of “Oh lord I can’t help myself!” These are good time partytunes executed with excellence. Though Miss Tess wears her influences on her sleeve,her music sounds fresh, spirited, and relevant. It’s enough to make you wanna get upand dance. Highly recommended.
-Mike Cobb
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