Play 90 second soundbite of 'Misunderstood' @ 'CD quality'
'Miss Understood' offers six Wonderland originals alongside six choice 'covers' - a well balanced and beautifully delivered set of electric blues based around Wonderland's steamy guitar work and her powerhouse voice. This is an album that raises the ante for the established female blues stars and also rocks the boat within the male dominated genre generally. Wonderland has such power in those elastic vocal chords that at times it's a bit scary. However, Wonderland also has the ability to take it down and easy and she uses her full range on this brilliant album. Her guitar gets a great outing too as she demonstrates superior skill and technique through all the required blues elements and styles. Wonderland is certainly a force to be reckoned with and she gives it all loud and proud for you here.
This lady aint all wind and piss though; take a listen to how easily she croons her way through the jazzy 'I Don't Want To Fall For You' and you'll see what I mean - the gals got style, the girls got class! Actually, 'Miss Understood' is quite a mixed bag of blues which showcases Wonderland's adaptability and versatility - oh yes, Carolyn Wonderland's got the blues alright!!
When it comes to knowing her way around a guitar and getting the max out it Wonderland also has it down to a fine art; when it's slow and cryin' she's got all the moves - when she reaches out and fingers fly she's note perfect, as pure as the driven snow! But, considering her quite obvious guitar virtuosity Wonderland doesn't seem to lay too much store on long drawn out solos - sure she knocks 'em out but generally they're shortish and to the point. Wonderland doesn't seem one for showboating but when it's fittingly called for she gets properly down to business and lays some skin on them there strings and that's for sure.
I have to admit that this was my first encounter with Carolyn Wonderland - she's impressed me with her all-round skills and talent. She knows when less is more and she also understands band dynamics so that all the component parts come together in unison to make oh such sweet music - blues all day long, blues of the highest order, blues to chill, blues to excite - Carolyn Wonderland's got the lot! Very impressive album this - I bet there'll be a few 'old hands' out there quaking in their boots when they hear what Carolyn Wonderland has done with 'Miss Understood' - quite right too - the lady's got blues right down to her soul - great musician - great album!! If Carolyn Wonderland was 'misunderstood' before, she certainly won't be now!
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