Sandi Thom
FLESH AND BLOODFor those that have not followed Sandi Thom’s career closely since her ‘bedroom made’ hit I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker, discovering Flesh and Blood will be quite a surprise. Since that 2006 number one, Thom’s career has moved much more into blues-rock than the pop accessibility of that early hit. No doubt her musical aspirations are more in this area, but her relationship with the guitarist Joe Bonamassa must have shaped the sound to some degree.
Here one track in particular is dedicated to their relationship, the stunningly delicate I Love You Like A Lunatic (“I don’t know why you stay, when I am having one of my days”). Thom describes the three year relationship as “life-changing”, but perhaps it is more career changing. The love song pleading of Sun Comes Crashing Down may also be inspired by her feelings for Bonamassa, and the first single from the album is the most commercial thing here (and should have been a big radio hit).
Most of Flesh and Blood takes 2010’s Merchants and Thieves bluesy feel and adds a bit of country, thanks in part to the production of The Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson and also to recording it in Nashville. Opening track Help Me and the later Stormy Weather both go for all out rock though, while the acoustic twang of Rise As One is littered with blues licks.
The country influence can be found on the traditional In The Pines (originally recorded by Huddie Ledbetter aka Lead belly in the forties). And then there is the grand introduction of Buffy Saint Marie on her very own classic, The Big Ones Get Away, where the two female vocals duel for attention superbly. It matches the closing Lay Your Burden Down for one of the album’s highlights.
Thom says this is the first album where she has been fully confident in making the very best music that she can. She admits herself that those that only know her from 2006 will be surprised. Sounding confident and happy with her sound, Thom is another British female singer to be proud of, just perhaps without the commercial attention that she once found frustrating.
