Shemekia Copeland (from the album Blame It on Eve

Shemekia Copeland (from the album Blame It on Eve

Shemekia Copeland (from the album Blame It on Eve available on Alligator Records) (by Brian Rock)

Multi award winning Blues powerhouse, Shemekia Copeland returns with her twelfth album Blame It on Eve. Departing (mostly) from the social activism of her previous several albums, Copeland focuses her attention here more on matters of the heart. But Shemekia Copeland’s voice remains big, bold, and boisterous as she mourns lost love, tells off the devil, or just demands some well-deserved time to enjoy a glass of wine every now and again.

Fittingly, the Blame It on Eve title track begins the album. Elements of Funk and Rock permeate the fiery Blues rhythms. Echoing the sentiment of Tammi Nielson’s “A Woman’s Pain”, Copeland moans ‘while a man is tough, a woman’s a bitch. Who needs a trial? Burn that witch! Blame it on Eve’. After listing the wrongs women have endured, she reminds us of the true power they possess. Issuing a searing statement of female empowerment, she roars ‘when God made woman from that rib, it was the smartest thing she ever did’. The pounding drums and wailing electric guitars add the exclamation point to her musical manifesto.

Shemekia Copeland explores Texas Blues on the gritty “Tough Mother”. The autobiographical song recounts the hardships she had to overcome to survive and eventually thrive. The Billy Gibson-inspired guitar work in the song captures both the mean streets of her youth and the optimistic energy that helped her survive. Venturing into Cajun Blues on the haunting “Belle Sorciere” she tells a touching tale of the love between a beautiful witch for her dying husband. She pours her heart out on the moaning Blues ballad “Only Miss You All the Time”. Shemekia Copeland goes old school to pay tribute to the Blues picker who taught Hank Williams on the Piedmont Blues tune “Tee Tot Payne”. She literally shouts down the devil on the rousing Gospel of “Tell the Devil”.

Shemekia Copeland returns to her trademark Chicago style Blues on the remainder of the album. ‘Cadillac Blue” celebrates love – whatever color it comes in. “Wine O’clock” expands happy hour as she sings ‘anytime’s the right time for a chardonnay’. “Is There Anybody Up There” captures the despair of watching too much evening news. “Down On Bended Knee” expresses the essence of broken-hearted Blues. “Heaven Help Us All” ends the album with a prayer for all humanity. Acknowledging the many different paths we tread; Copeland shines a musical spotlight on some of the paths that don’t always get the attention or sympathy they need. Always willing to lend her voice to those who don’t have a voice of their own, Shemekia Copeland is a force to be reckoned with. (By Brian Rock)