Eliza Neals review…March 10, 2015…

ELIZA NEALS

BREAKING AND ENTERING

E-HRECORDS  88921122018

DETROIT DRIVE–BREAKING AND ENTERING–JEKYLL AND A HOUND–GOO GOO GLASS–YOU–PRETTY GRITTY–SOUTHERN COMFORT DREAMS–WINDSHIELD WIPERS–SUGAR DADDY–I’M THE GIRL–SPINNING–BREAKING AND ENTERING (RADIO MIX)

Eliza Neals hails from Detroit, and possesses one of those unique vocal styles that pounds with passion one moment, and oozes vulnerability the next.  This mixture of sugar and spice permeates her recent release, “Breaking And Entering.”  She’s backed by some of the Motor City’s best axemen, too, including Kenny Olson, Mike Puwal, and the ol’ Liquor Store Legend himself, Howard Glazer.

It’s Howard’s slide that adds that special touch to Eliza’s set opener, “Detroit Drive,” a lustful, primal story of “goin’ down Woodward Avenue for some wine,” then “gettin’ in the back seat to just grind!”  Howard’s electric guitar adds some funk to Eliza’s vocal on “Goo Goo Glass,” while she shows that tough-but-soft side in a love story of sorts, ‘when I’m down, You make me feel alive!”  She adds her own piano on “Pretty Gritty,” while a clever play on words conveys the theme of an ode to a lover, “You’re my Southern Comfort Dream.”  The sound of the “Windshield Wipers wiping my tears away” is the perfect metaphor for this powerful, minor-key look at a broken love affair.  Eliza’s tale of excesses is done only with her vocal over Howard’s guitar, as she sings  that “bed is Spinning, and I can’t find my way home.”

We had two favorites, too.  Eliza touches on the Motown connection with a cool cover of Barrett Strong’s “Sugar Daddy.”  This one features Tyrone Smith on sax and Shane Visbal on that chicken-scratchin’ guitar.  And, the bump-and-grind of the title cut, presented in two versions, is so hot that you’ll wish Eliza was “Breaking And Entering” your heart!

Eliza Neals has the right touch of ‘tude and tenderness, and the players she surrounded herself with make “Breaking And Entering” one of the hotteset sets we’ve had the pleasure of hearing in quite some time!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.