ANDREA MARR
NATURAL
AM 2017
FORCE OF NATURE–ROCK STEADY–MAMA GOT IT WRONG SOMETIMES TOO–GRATEFUL–THAT’S WHERE LOVE ENDS–LET’S TAKE IT TO THE BEDROOM–CREDIT–WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO–SNAKES–REAL GOOD MAN–STICKS AND STONES
The first thing you are going to notice when you listen to Andrea Marr is that hugely-soulful voice. She’s another “world-travelin” blues woman, having represented her home country (since the age of 14) of Australia twice in Memphis for the IBC’s. She has a passion for the music of Motown, Stax, Etta, Aretha, Sharon Jones, and JB, and she’s got the chops to pull it off. Her full-length debut started as an EP back in 2013, featuring her tight-as-a-rib-tip 8-piece backing unit, The Funky Hitmen, and evolved into the nine originals and two covers that comprise “Natural.”
Folks, Andrea “don’t hold nothin’ back” and it’s refreshing to hear a singer just turn it a loose and have fun with this material. She busts outta the gate with a strong tale of a “hurricane of emotion,” comparing her feelings for a lover to a “Force Of Nature.” She reminds us all to be “Grateful” for “every day that I’m breathing,” a song with a powerful gospel feel. She likes to get her love groove on, too, thru danceable cuts such as “Credit,” her ode to that “Real Good Man,” who’ll “never let this woman down,” as well as knowin’ when the time is right to say, “Let’s Take It To The Bedroom.”
We had three favorites, too. Andrea turns in perhaps the most bluesy cut on the set with the horn-and-piano-driven sweetness of “That’s Where Love Ends.” She shouts out to her mom and the life lessons passed down to her, altho, admittedly, “Mama Got It Wrong Sometimes Too.” And, no album of this stature would be complete without a nod to The Godfather. Andrea and The Hitmen get it tight, right, and outta sight on a blistering read of the ultra-funky, “What Do I Have To Do to prove my love to you?”
Fans, since the untimely passing of Sharon Jones, someone has to step up and carry the soul torch forward. Why not Andrea Marr? She’s sho’ nuff a “Natural!” Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.
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