Hard To Kill
Fathead, 2022
8/10
The esteemed singer-songwriter and author Janiva Magness returns with a very personal body of work on this 16th studio album of blues, funk, rock, Americana and soul sounds.
“Strong As Steel” starts the listen with thumping drums, before Magness brings her rugged yet inviting pipes to the thick blues rocker, and “The Last Time” follows with a warm groove under the playful and soulful song craft that benefits much from cozy organ.
Deeper into the listen, “Comes Around” displays graceful percussion as Magness’ poetic singing soars with much emotion, while “You And Me” flirts with R&B nods in a very playful fashion of rhythmic, melodic song craft that will be forever timeless.
Inching towards the end, “Closer” gets a bit more intimate in a sage like delivery of personal storytelling that hints at gospel, and “Oh Pearl” exits the listen bare, eloquent and with Magness’ versatile pipes front and center.
An extremely well done effort, it’s no surprise that Magness is Grammy nominated, and she’s also picked up seven Blues Music Awards, and in 2009 she became only the second woman to receive the highly coveted B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award. Hard To Kill continues her exceptional catalog and is a must for fans of the blues, roots music and Americana across the entire spectrum.
Travels well with: Sue Foley- Pinky’s Blues; Gina Sicilia- Unchange