Eileen Rose - Luna Turista

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 28 / 11 / 2009

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Review

A career-high was how I closed a review of Eileen Rose’s last album, ‘At Our Tables’ and at the time I really did feel that it was the best album Eileen had made. All that changes now as with the ten songs on ‘Luna Turista’ Eileen, along with her band the Holy Wreck, have made their most satisfying and accomplished album so far. It’s unusual for any band or artist to, five albums in, make their best work. But that’s how it is with Eileen. She has progressed a little with each album but as there has only been about 12 short months between this album and the last there isn’t a great change in sound or direction; the band cover much the same ground, a pop, soul and country infusion and that voice always taking the centre stage but the songs are so much stronger than before. Whereas much of ‘At Our Tables’ was immediate, some of the songs took a little time to work their way into your head, but with ‘Luna Turista’ the songs hit home and feel comfortable on the very first listen. That’s not to say that they lose any of their attraction after a while; songs like ‘Third Time’s a Charm’ and ‘Silver Ladle’ still stand up after numerous plays. The former song shows just how strong Eileen is vocally; when the music is slowed down and stripped back somewhat as it is in this song, especially in the beginning, we can hear just how perfect and powerful that voice is. But the latter song is one of Eileen’s best vocal performances ever. There really is no one to compare her to, maybe Lucinda Williams at a push, but Eileen’s distinctive vocals really do shine on ‘Silver Ladle’, a ballad where Eileen is joined on vocals by Joshua Hedley who does a fine job but really Eileen shows just what a soulful singer she is. She rips every bit of emotion from the song; it’s almost as if she is on her knees in front of you, pleading with you. Nine of the songs are Rose originals which, given how strong the material is, is further proof that Eileen Rose is a major artist now. The only cover is a version of 'Luckenbach Texas', which was the Chips Moman / Bobby Emmons song made famous by Waylon Jenningss thirty something years ago. The fact that despite it obviously being the most country influenced song on the album Eileen, along with Joshua Hedley again, make this decades-old song sound contemporary. It is kind of like a 2009 version of George and Tammy or Gram and Emmylou. Maybe it’s time to return to Eileen’s albums prior to ‘At Our Tables’ because although that album is still fresh in the mind and Eileen’s vocals were exceptional over the whole of that collection, I can’t remember her previous albums being this good all the way through. Every single song on ‘Luna Turista’ could be pulled off the album and released as a single to get radio attention. The backing, both musically and vocally by the Holy Wreck is outstanding and even though I’ve spent my time raving over Eileen’s vocals these songs would not have the power or be as exciting, I’m sure, in the hands of other musicians. The band play well together and as the album is produced by Eileen together with Holy Wreck member Rich Gilbert the whole thing gels so well. It’s impossible to label what Eileen Rose and The Holy Wreck do; they have a foot in many different genres and the fact that the lead singer obviously feels every single word she sings no matter if she is tackling a ballad or rocking along is one of the reasons they are so successful at this. They’ve left it late in the year to release one of the best albums of 2009 but that’s just what this exceptional band has done. Wholly recommended.

Track Listing:-

1 Simple Touch Of The Hand
2 Sad Ride Home
3 Trouble From Tommorrow
4 Third Time's A Charm
5 Silver Ladle
6 Luckenbach Texas
7 Strange
8 Why Am I Awake
9 The One You Wanted
10 All These Pretty Things