Customer Reviews
Great new talent - By: JR Latham, 01 Jul 2008 
A superb album - an exciting new voice, on both the cover versions & the originals, & confident handling of several genres (I don't find the current 'blues singer' pigeon-holing very helpful, although she can handle this genre well). OK, she probably can develop a bit more edge & drive & surely will, but she's well on the way. Strongly recommended!
Great voice, bigger potential - By: Gloucestershire Echo, 23 Jun 2008 She's got a great voice & can handle a range of styles with ease.
Her pop radio songs are somewhat misleading as her handling of blues & gospel numbers on this album is exceptional.
Yes, there are echoes of other great female artists here, but her voice & style is distinctive & good enough to ensure she doesn't get consigned to the 'if you like this, you'll love this' category.
A refreshing new talent & voice in a sea of increasing pop mediocrity.
Quite simply, superb! - By: Mr. David A. Cooper, 20 Jun 2008 Although I have owned this CD for some time, I wanted to defer my review until I saw Beth live which I did on 19th June at The Stables. Quite simply, Beth Rowley is the best blues singer I've heard since the wonderful Eva Cassidy.This girl has everything, looks, personality, & most of alll,a sensational voice. The CD is just a starting point as you reallly must see her live to appreciate just how good she is. She also has a superb band, & her co-writer & tenor sax player, Ben Castle, also happens to be the great Roy Castle's son. Given the breaks in a tough industry, Beth Rowley will become a legend.
An album of two halves - By: IWFIcon, 15 Jun 2008 
Beth Rowley has been knocking about for a good few years; is it any surprise that her big breakthrough (this album debuted at number 6 in the UK charts) has come hot on the heels of the 2nd tranche of "Amy Winehouse followers" (Duffy, Adele et.al.)? Perhaps not, but it's no reason to hate her, or be dismissive of what is a decent album.
It's at its best on the more, dare I say it, old fashioned entries. Almost Persuaded with its simple piano backing is a winner, as is her version of Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" (featuring Peter Wilson of Duke Special fame).
When she, or her producers, try to take things in a more contemporary "pop" route, the gloss adds nothing to the proceedings. A case in point is So Sublime. It's pleasant, but doesn't make enough of the undoubted talent Rowley has.
Lovely- can't wait for the next one! - By: A Music Lover, 05 Jun 2008 
If you're thinking that Beth Rowley is just another Winehouse clone foisted upon us by record companies, think again. If you reallly need a comparison then a lazy one would be Eva Cassidy. Rowley's voice is clear, bluesy, sweet but strong & very natural, unlike said clones. Musicallly the album draws from folk, blues, gospel & country, with a dash of Motown & soul thrown in for good measure. It has a lovely warm, upbeat, feelgood vibe & doesn't suffer from an excess of pop gloss like so many other highly-anticipated debuts(Gabriella Cilmi comes to mind here). The fact that quite a few of the songs are covers doesn't matter, as Rowley, like Jeff Buckley, Ella Fitzgerald & Chrissie Hynde (to name but a few)has one of those gorgeous voices that could make singing the phone book sound spellbinding. I do, however, take issue with the treatment of Dylan's I Shalll Be Released; okay, it's nice, but in my view, anyone who has the sheer audacity to think they can better Dylan should be locked in a room & forced to listen to Blood on The Tracks until they realize their mistake. Anyway, although I wouldn't say any of the tracks are downright bad (again Rowley's voice saves them), So Sublime veers a little too close to radio-friendly pop territory for me, & whoever suggested a duet with Duke Special (whoever he is) ought to be shot- next to Rowley, his wimpy warbling near-ruins what could have been another great number. My only other gripe would be -and I think someone else has remarked upon this- is that Rowley just can't seem to summon the gusto for You Never Callled Me- her voice is so sweet, she just doesn't sound angry or convincing enough for this song. Still, these are minor flaws, & as a whole the album is hugely enjoyable & I'm sure I will return to it again- unlike many works by hyped-up 'next best things'. Beth Rowley definitely deserves wider recognition & big success if this impressive debut (and apparently even more impressive live shows) are anything to go by. Looking forward to the next one!
