1 	That's What Love Will Make You Do 	3:22
2 	I Want A Love 	3:46
3 	I'm Glad You're Mine 	3:26
4 	Bitter Pill 	4:08
5 	Fool Me Again 	3:43
6 	Get It. Get It 	4:17
7 	One Heartache Too Late 	4:36
8 	You Sound Pretty Good 	2:27
9 	I Dont Want You On My Mind 	4:06
10 	Don't Do It 	2:56
11 	I Won't Be Around 	3:58
12 	Freedom Is Just Beoynd The Door 	3:26
13 	Sometimes You Got To Gamble 	3:59

Julie Christensen 	Vocals (Background)
Brie Darling 	Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Dave Darling 	Bass, Engineer, Guitar, Handclapping, Mixing, Percussion, Producer, Vocals (Background)
Donny Gerrard 	Vocals (Background)
Justin Guarini 	Choir/Chorus
Stephen Hodges 	Drums, Handclapping, Percussion
Janiva Magness 	Handclapping, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals (Background)
Mark Philpart 	Vocals (Background)
Arlan Schierbaum 	Clavinet, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond), Wurlitzer
Lee Thornburg 	Horn, Trombone, Trumpet
Jeff Big Dad Turmes 	Banjo, Bass, Composer, Guitar, Handclapping, Horn, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor)
Michael "Junior" Watson 	Guitar
John Whynot 	Keyboards, Piano
Benny Yee 	Keyboards
Red Young 	Keyboards, Organ (Hammond), Wurlitzer 

After over a decade of hard labor in the blues trenches, Janiva Magness finally gets a shot at the brass ring with her debut Alligator release. Six increasingly accomplished albums provided the studio experience in crafting her music for maximum dynamics, and the results show on this rollicking set of blues and R&B that kicks off with the Little Milton penned title track. As usual Magness finds terrific, generally obscure material, digging deep to unearth gems such as Teresa James' "I Want a Love" and even Annie Lennox's "Bitter Pill," an unusual choice on the surface but one that perfectly captures Magness' tougher edge. With more time and a larger budget, these songs are fleshed out with horns, organ, and background vocals. While that makes for a bigger production and a more immediate sound, Magness' magnificent voice occasionally gets lost in the mix. That's the case on upbeat tracks such as her version of an Ike Turner rarity "Get It, Get It," which features three guitars and brass. Ditto for a seemingly rushed version of Marvin Gaye's "Don't Do It" that might have sounded like a good idea on paper, but never catches fire because her vocals fight for attention in a somewhat cluttered mix. That's about the only downside for an album that delivers what anyone who has seen Magness live will love. She rips into ballads such as Gary Nicholson's Memphis-styled "Fool Me Again" with tenacity, and the stripped down arrangement allows her to bring a gritty emotional edge that Delbert McClinton, who could be considered the male counterpart to Magness, creates so effectively. Husband/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Jeff Turmes' material, including "Sometimes You Got to Gamble," a ballad sung against his gospel piano and sparse bass, is moving and riveting. Another Turmes original "You Sound Pretty Good" brings a peppy New Orleans-styled horn arrangement and banjo to one of this disc's highlights. Bill Withers' "I Don't Want You on My Mind" gets down to its swampy soul in a cool, crawling arrangement featuring a slicing Turmes guitar solo. Earl Thomas' "I Won't Be Around" frames Magness' voice in a stark, near musical silence that allows her to tear into its emotional center. Although she's no newcomer, many might be exposed to Janiva Magness through this album due to Alligator's marketing and distribution muscle. It's a great place to start enjoying a veteran performer who burns through these songs like she's got everything to prove. ---Hal Horowitz, AllMusic Review

Artystów można podzielić na trzy grupy. Zaliczamy tu tych, którzy w swoich zespołach postawili na wartości instrumentalne, nie przejmując się wokalnym niedomaganiem lidera. Są także tacy, co skupili się na sile wokalnej oraz ci, którzy starali się dopieścić należycie wszystkie elementy. Do drugiej grupy zaliczyć należy Janivę Magness, a jej ostatnia płyta potwierdza tylko wcześniej obraną drogę.

"The Devil is an Angel Too" to drugi z kolei album artystki, wydany przez popularną wytwórnię Alligator. Zawarto na nim dwanaście utworów, będących kontynuacją pomysłów z płyty "What Love Will Do", która odniosła sukces dwa lata wcześniej. Podobnie jak tam, tak i tu na pierwszym planie postawiony jest nienaganny wokal artystki, a tło stanowi nienachalny, acz w pełni profesjonalnie przygrywający zespół.

Profesjonalny, choć mało urozmaicony, za to opatrzony należytym groove’em, podkład stanowi idealne tło dla wokalnych popisów wokalistki. Nie znajdziemy tu długich solówek na instrumentach, ale też poszukiwanie ich byłoby bezcelowe. Janiva Magness stara się w swoim stylu ugryźć kanon muzyki soul i r&b podając wszystko z lekkością zarezerwowaną zwykle dla muzyki pop. W niektórych kawałkach można wyczuć trywialne melodie, choć utwory i tak wydają się różnorodne, jak na dość oklepane już schematy wykorzystane na albumie.

Bez cienia najmniejszej wątpliwości wokal Janivy Magness zasługuje na najwyższe odznaczenia. Jest on ciepły, podrasowany delikatnym, lecz na szczęście niewymuszonym piaskiem, co nadaje mu dodatkowego charakteru. Jest bardzo głęboki, pozbawiony jakiejkolwiek maniery, klarowny i wyrazisty we wszystkich pasmach.

Album "The Devil is an Angel Too" powinien znaleźć się na półce każdego fana dobrego, kobiecego wokalu. Janiva Magness dzięki niemu podtrzymuje wyrobioną przez siebie markę, zaliczając się tym samym do grona najlepszych białych wokalistek w swoim gatunku. ---Kuba Chmiel, magazyngitarzysta.pl

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto gett solidfiles

back

1 	Love Wins Again 	3:18
2 	Real Slow 	3:51
3 	When You Hold me 	3:57
4 	Say You Will 	3:50
5 	Doorway 	3:57
6 	Moth To A Flame 	4:44
7 	Your House Is Burnin' 	3:57
8 	Just Another Lesson 	3:08
9 	Rain Down 	4:01
10 	Long As I Can See The Light 	3:17
11 	Who Will Come For Me 	4:38

Backing Vocals – Aurelia, Brie Darling, Dave Darling, Gary Pinto, Kudisan Kai, Natasha Pinto, Sugaray Rayford, Thrones
Bass – Davey Faragher
Dobro, Pedal Steel Guitar [Pedal Steel] – Doug Livingston
Drums – Stephen Hodges
Guitar – Cedric Burnside (tracks: 9), Dave Darling
Guitar, Banjo – Courtney Hartman (tracks: 6)
Harmonica – Charlie Musselwhite (tracks: 2)
Horns – Alfredo Ballesteros, Darrell Leonard, Joe Sublett
Keyboards [Keys] – Arlan Schierbaum
Pedal Steel Guitar [Pedal Steel] – Rusty Young (tracks: 3)
Piano – Phil Parlapiano
Vocals – Bryan Stephens (tracks: 5), Delbert McClinton (tracks: 8)
Vocals – Janiva Magness

Janiva Magness released her first album in 1997, but it took her nearly two decades until she snagged a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2016. The nod was for Love Wins Again, her first record for Blue Élan and fifth collaboration with producer Dave Darling, with whom she has an easy, natural chemistry. Love Is an Army, her 2018 sequel to Love Wins Again, illustrates that for however easy her rapport with Darling is, it is hardly lazy. Like its predecessor, Love Is an Army is rooted in Southern soul-blues -- the opening "Back to Blue" is a proud throwback to the classic sound of Stax Records -- but Magness adds new dimensions to this blueprint. Notably, there's a strong country undercurrent that runs through the album, first surfacing on "On and On" -- a steady-rolling number featuring Poco's Rusty Young on pedal steel -- but reappearing on the title track and the fragile "Down Below." When paired with the adventurous blues that pops up elsewhere -- "Home" is a fuzz-drenched gospel number, "Hammer" is densely funky yet finds a spot for Charlie Musselwhite -- this Americana turns Love Is an Army into a rich, rewarding affair that betters its fine predecessor.---Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic Review

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto solidfiles global-files

back

1 	The Devil Is An Angel 	
2 	I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down 	
3 	Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love 	
4 	I'm Feelin' Good 	
5 	Weeds Like Us 	
6 	Walkin' In The Sun 	
7 	End Of Our Road 	
8 	Save Me 	
9 	I Want To Do Everything For You 	
10 	Your Love Made A U-Turn 	
11 	Homewrecker 	
12 	Turn Your Heart In My Direction

Janiva Magness - Vocals (Background)
Ted Andreadis - Hammond B3, Keyboards, Wurlitzer
Gonzalo Bergara - Guitar (Acoustic)
Stevie Blacke - Strings
Spanky D - Vocals (Background)
Brie Darling - Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Dave Darling - Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboards, Mixing, Vocals (Background), Wurlitzer
Gary Davenport - Bass
Stephen Hodges - Drums, Percussion
Ernie Perez - Vocals (Background)
Arlan Schierbaum - Farfisa Organ, Hammond B3, Piano
Jeff Turmes - Bass, Guitar, Sax (Baritone), Slide Guitar
Zach Zunis - Guitar

It would have been natural for soul/roots vocalist Magness to capitalize on the success of her 2008 Alligator debut by shifting toward a more commercial middle ground for the follow-up two years later. While she hasn't changed direction drastically, it's encouraging that Magness finds under-the-radar material to wrap her husky voice around. Those somewhat unlikely sources for torchy songs include gems from Nick Lowe and Julie Miller. The latter provides the title track, setting the album's philosophical tone by examining both the angelic and demonic sides of human nature. That theme weaves through the disc on stirring, often rousing covers of tunes made famous, or at least introduced to Magness, by Graham Parker ("I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down," perhaps better-known to R&B fans through Ann Peebles' classic performance), Percy Sledge ("Walkin' in the Sun"), Marvin Gaye ("End of Our Road"), and Joe Tex (the often covered but rarely impressive "I Want to Do Everything for You"). She also revisits the Nina Simone well. Simone is a logical source since the singer's eclectic song choices seem to be an inspiration for Magness' own approach. Here she dusts off and breathes new life into the Bricusse/Newley standard "Feeling Good" (incorrectly listed as "I'm Feelin' Good"). The disc's wide stylistic range flows together effortlessly with Magness' broad, sultry, soulful vocals, unique arrangements, and a band that tugs at the heart of these songs, delivering taut yet spacious performances. Many of the players return from her last outing with standout work from guitarist/co-producer Dave Darling. His swampy touch meshes with drummer Stephen Hodges' patented, rubbery thumping. The combination works flawlessly with the Memphis groove of "Playhouse," where Magness' powerful pipes bite into the song like a hungry wolf. She's just as effective on "Weeds Like Us," an ominous, deep Delta blues ballad written by husband/bassist/guitarist Jeff Turmes, who also contributes the closing, standard-styled "Turn Your Heart in My Direction." Magness connected with a definitive version of Gary Nicholson's "You Were Never Mine" a few albums ago, and finds another Nicholson gem in the aching gospel of "Save Me." These dozen songs barely break the 40-minute mark, allowing the singer to hit her targets and move on. Magness nails every performance, seamlessly shifting from dark to light. It's that dichotomy that brings the tension and release, edging her a little further from the typical R&B territory that is only a starting point for her dynamic talent. ---Hal Horowitz, allmusic.com

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto solidfiles

back

01 – There It Is		
02 – I Won’t Cry
03 – Make It Rain
04 – Whistlin’ in the Dark
05 – I’m Alive
06 – Ragged Company
07 – You Got What You Wanted
08 – I Don’t Want to Do Wrong
09 – Thought I Knew You
10 – Dirty Water
11 – Things Left Undone
12 – Whoop and Holler		

Janiva Magness – vocals, composer
Zach Zunis – guitar
Arlan Oscar - Hammond B3, melodica, piano
Jim Alfredson - Hammond B3, keyboards, piano
Gary Davenport – bass
Dave Darling - bass, composer, guitars, piano, toy piano, vocals (background)
Matt Teco – drums

Janiva Magness hasn't recorded any of her own compositions since she cut "Good Car" on It Takes One to Know One, her 1997 debut. Here she makes up for lost time with three compelling co-writes with producer David Darling. The tunes are some of the most potent on an album with no shortage of powerful material. There's a hint of Stax in the arrangement of "There It Is," the nasty kiss-off that opens the set. Darling's gritty guitar and Matt Teco's drums provide an ominous stomping rhythm to set off Magness' snarling vocal. When she sings, "I never thought I'd wanna hurt a man so bad," it sends chills down your spine. "I Won't Cry" visits the same heartbroken territory, but with a quiet intensity. Magness dips into her throaty mid-range to profess, "I get cut and I might bleed, but I won't cry." It's a great tag line supported by Darling's simmering lead and haunting B-3 by Arlan Oscar. "Whistling in the Dark" delivers more simmering Southern soul as Magness delivers the tale of a long-suffering spouse who knows the truth, but is unable to leave the relationship. The rest of the program is made up of her usual selection of well-chosen covers. "Make It Rain" from Tom Waits' Real Gone album is transformed into an old-time blues with Magness and Darling's guitar engaging a lively call and response. Magness shows off her range here, slipping from her growling mid-range up to a sorrowful shriek. On most of the album, she displays a muted, simmering side, delivering the bad news with understated intensity. Ike Turner's "You Got What You Wanted" uses a funky New Orleans rhythm to support a vocal that flips between rage and resignation. Grace Potter's "Ragged Company" is a quiet, introspective look at life's unpleasant truths, and Gladys Knight's "I Don't Wanna Do Wrong" is a slow, sexy R&B burner that delves into the dark allure of infidelity with a sinister groove and Magness delivering one of her most wrenching vocals. The album closes with Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Whoop and Holler," a gospel song that lives up to its title with the band supplying unrestrained whoops and handclaps to support Magness' jubilant vocal. --- j. poet, allmusic.com

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto solidfiles

back