Lizanne Knott - South of Graceland

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 8 / 6 / 2010

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Review

According to Bob Harris after featuring Lizanne Knott on his radio show he “rarely had as big a reaction to any artist in recent years”. Going by the songs that make up ‘South Of Graceland’ which is her third album, that’s understandable. To a point anyway. Although probably by now tired of the comparison, the music Lizanne makes isn’t a million miles removed from that which a host of other female singer-songwriters make and the name of Sheryl Crow would top that list. While Lizanne’s vocals are more delicate than Crow’s and she obviously isn’t trying to be a rock-chick in any way they both follow a similar musical road. There are traces of Crow in the vocals on the opening track, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, but not so much as to dismiss Lizanne as some type of clone. Unfortunately ( or not depending on how you view Crow’s music) the following song, ‘Why Baby Why’, could have been lifted straight from ‘Tuesday Night Music Club’ and one then gets the feeling that maybe Bob Harris might have been a little over-enthusiastic in his praise for Lizanne. Crow is, in fact, a highly talented musician and while there are certainly worse artists to be compared to the world is maybe a little too small for two Sheryl Crows to be successful. But thankfully on the third song, ‘Jesus or Elvis (revisited)’, Lizanne really comes into her own. It’s the first time, on this album at least, where she shows that there is a certain sound that is pure Lizanne Knott. As usual the song has a strong melody and strong lyrics and the addition of backing vocals in the chorus from pianist John Conahan adds a nice touch and texture to the song. The electric guitar solo by Darryl Johnson also lifts the song to another level. But it’s Lizanne’s vocals that really carry the song. Sounding delicate and vulnerable but never weak it’s the first time on the album where Lizanne’s vocals really impress. It carries on from there, the next track, ‘Sunday’, a beautiful ballad which if it wasn’t for yet another stunning guitar solo this time by Jeff Lee Johnson would still be exceptional due to the mandolin and Wurlitzer featured on the song again shows that Lizanne does have a vocal style that is all her own and it’s one that makes that quote by Bob Harris believable. Just when you think that Lizanne couldn’t possibly better those two songs she comes up with ‘Too Much Love’ an acoustic guitar fuelled gem of a song which is a highlight of this collection. Then just when you start thinking that Lizanne really shines on the more stripped-back ballads she returns with yet another ballad but this time with a fuller band complete with lap steel violin, cello, upright bass and piano, but still her vocals are crystal clear and not drowned out. Again the subtle use of male backing vocals by Conahan makes the song shine. The more jazz-influenced songs such as ‘Wonderful Day’ and ‘I Got Song’, while showing another side to Lizanne, and it’s one she handles well, don’t impress as much as her more folk/country ballads but they make the album more interesting and they will impress just as many listeners as her folk/ country songs do. They certainly show that Lizanne is no one trick pony. ‘South Of Graceland’ is an excellent album but by opening the collection with two songs that bring to mind so heavily another singer I think that a little more thought should have been given to the running order of the tracks as after the third song this album is pure Lizanne Knott and that’s what we want to hear more of.

Track Listing:-

1 Don't Let Me Down
2 Why Baby Why
3 Jesus or Elvis (Revisited)
4 Sunday
5 Too Much Love
6 My Little Town
7 Wonderful Day
8 Preacher
9 I Got Song
10 Hey Doctor
11 Kill the Crows
12 No Better Days