Eliza Neals review…February 24, 2017…

ELIZA NEALS

10000 FEET BELOW

E-H RECORDS 191061112297

CLEOTUS–ANOTHER LIFETIME–BURN THE TENT DOWN–10000 FEET BELOW–YOU AIN’T MY DOG NO MORE–COLD COLD NIGHT (FEAT. PAUL NELSON)–HARD KILLING FLOOR–CALL ME MOONSHINE (FEAT. HOWARD GLAZER)–DOWNHILL ON A ROCKET–MERLE DIXON–AT THE CROSSROADS (FEAT. BILLY DAVIS)

Detroit lady of the blues Eliza Neals absolutely blew us away a few years back with her last album, “Breaking And Entering,” featuring her powerful vocals that have “The Four J’s” all over them–that is, Janis Joplin and Joan Jett!  Eliza’s back with another fine set of soul-searing blues, this one entitled  “100000 Feet Below.”  The ten originals feature cuts written by Eliza herself, with collaborations from HJ Neals as well as fellow Detroiter and our favorite “Liquor Store Legend,” Howard Glazer, who doubles on guitar.

These cuts will take you on a journey inside your soul as Eliza works her magic on tales from the deepest recesses of the blues.  She gets down to business with the leadoff tale of every neighborhood’s resident pimp, “Cleotus,” who drives “that long black car with a gun in his hand.”  It has fine Delta slide from Howard, set over a brooding, sparse arrangement.  Another stone blues-rock party is “Burn The Tent Down,” with the story of a big ol’ “barbecue down South!”

The single released a few months back is included, as Eliza tells a no-good lover that “You Ain’t My Dog No More,” with “no more treats and no more rubbin’ your feets!”  Howard’s slide guitar adds to the ferocity on this one, too.  Another soul-searcher is the blistering title cut, where, at “10000 Feet Below,” Eliza reminds us we “reap what we sow” and urges us all to repent!  That vibe also closes the set,  and that tune served as our favorite.  Billy Davis is on guitar, and Eliza is on piano.  Altho she doesn’t call ’em out by name, you can feel the presence of the denizens who live down “At The Crossroads.”  Yep–there, the “birds are swimming and the fish are flying,” and you KNOW who else is there–that “shadowed man in the long black coat”  who is “reaching out his hand” for souls looking to make that last deal!  The piano and Davis’ Hell-hound-ish  guitar adds to that spooky,  “full moon down at the corner of Highway 61 and 49”  vibe of this one.

Eliza Neals pays tribute to one of her mentors and one of Detroit’s best singers–the ol’ “Money–That’s What I Want” man himself, Barrett Strong.  in the liner notes of “100000 Feet Below.”  For us, it serves as  the strongest set of er career!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.