Tami Neilson Shows Soul & Sass On ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

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Canadian songstress Tami Neilson delivers a powerful blend of soul and sass on her sophomore LP, a combination that’s compelling enough to convince anyone who was heretofore unawares just how powerful her potential is within the realms of blues and soul. Despite having accumulated a substantial amount of kudos in New Zealand, her adopted home, the record wasn’t easy from the outset. Early in the process she lost her father, and when she finished writing the sad, somber title track which he had started, it made the recording that much more powerful and poignant.

Neilson got her start touring with her dad’s family band, and the echoes of Americana are evident throughout, most notably in spirited songs like “So Far Away” and the caress and croon that accompany “If Love Were Enough.” Yet, there’s also a decidedly soulful feel that’s equally as unmistakable. Whether it’s the energetic Tina Turner-like propulsion of “Holy Moses” or the seductive caress of “Lonely,” a song that already sounds like a standard, Neilson embraces the material like a contender ready for primetime. It’s clear in both her command and her confidence that she has the chops needed to seize center stage.

Ultimately, Don’t Be Afraid clearly reflects the verve and versatility of an artist who’s easily able to tackle a varied musical terrain. While the moods veer from sedate to seductive (listen to the slow burn of “Bury My Body” as an example of the latter), she’s adroit at shifting her stance towards whatever the music calls for. Consequently, Don’t Be Afraid is as fearless an effort as the title would have us believe, one that suggests she has the sentiment and savvy necessary to make her mark on the world at large. For now anyway, she’s made it clear she’s one to be reckoned with.