Teetering between femme fatale and "kitten stuck in a tree," Toshi Reagon shows a complete disregard for genre. Her style is a melting pot of dirty blues, droning gospel, energetic funk, and tactless pop.
Her latest CD, "Have You Heard," with songs "Didn't I Tell You," "Ooh Wee," and "Soul-N-Deep," are reminiscent of Jamiroquai's attempt to wed soul and funk. Ms. Reagon isn't completely unsuccessful at genre crossing, but she could concentrate more on what she knows best, soul and gospel.
Even though her band, the Big Lovely, features a harmonica, an organ and even a mandolin, instrumentals tend to come secondary to vocals. Her superhuman voice is far too distracting. It aborts any need for complicated riffs. Though, every now and again the echoing twang of that good ole electric acoustic guitar interjects.
Depending on the song, Ms. Reagon's voice can sound tired and overworked like in "Dream," or contrastingly playful. She is unmatched when it comes to digging out the most honest lyrics buried deep inside her belly.
"Well I worry bout my problems the simple colors cool me down. I don't want no trouble but I gets it anyway," she moans in "Building Blues."
This song exhibits the savvy crooning that Ms. Reagon is praised for. After having been wooed by her voice, the absence of elaborate instrumentals is much more forgivable, it's obvious that they are of little importance here.
The blue-collared gospel featured on this album conjures images of truck driving, motels and baptism. This style relates well with Ben Harper's post-modern gospel, a type of music that alludes to salvation but can be interpreted as a melodic cleansing instead.
No worries, this isn't a bible thumping, dogma reciting, fire and brimstone-spewing sort of CD. Rather, she creates a spiritual energy that any listener can appreciate.
Slandering this album with the notion of being too scatter-brained could easily translate to versatility, which is a whole lot better than being "ordinary." So, congratulations to Ms. Reagon's new CD, "Have You Heard," for being everything but trite.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
