Lynn adroitly treads her familiar territory, on the fence separating gutbucket and contemporary blues, on what seems to be her most pleasing album yet. Opening with the spirited juke blues of “Loose Lips,” ashe easily moves into some soul balladry on “Try to Leave Me.” The album climaxes on the salacious double-entendre barrelhouse blues of “Instant Breakfast,” a song sure to not only become one of Lynn’s signature songs over the next few years, but also a frequent cover for other adventurous singers. Picking an obscure Ruby Johnson classic from Stax: The Complete Singles (1959-1968), Lynn gives a somewhat shrill, though enjoyable, work-out of the belting ballad, though Johnson’s is still the superior version. The album ends with an ode to Otis Redding with bluesy renditions of his ballads “Lover’s Prayer” and “Pain in My Heart.” – Bil Carpenter
more »