cletta1201's Full Review: Blame It on Me by Alana Davis
I chose to write a review about this album simply because whenever people mention they only ever speak about her cover of Ani Difranco’s “32 Flavors” and while it is an impressive cover, the album does have much more to offer than that. It is one of the few albums that has remained in my cd changer and never left. I enjoy this album now, just as much when I originally purchased it. “Blame It On Me”, originally released in 1997, this album did gain attention for the aforementioned cover, but a noteworthy fact is that Davis either wrote or co-wrote all of the album’s 12 tracks (with the exception of 32 Flavors).
The album is a little blues, a little bit soul, a little bit R&B, and a little bit folk all tossed together for a unique blend of different things. If you’re a guitar fan, you’ll love this album too, because there are a lot of them from electric to acoustic, the album has a very warm feel to it. It could just be you and her, in your living room singing songs and jamming and you feel that. That is not to say that the production lacks anything because it doesn’t, it is a studio album, and you know it, but that doesn’t take away from anything.
The album begins with “32 Flavors” and although I do own an Ani Difranco cd, I’ve only ever heard her sing the original once. I can only imagine that as an artist, if someone were to remake my song, that it would sound as good as this one does. It is a definite bonus on the album. The track “Murder” is a sample that even most hip-hop fans will recognize because it was sampled on Jay-Z’s album Vol.3: The Life and Times of Sean Carter on the track there’s been a murder. This song is a mid-tempo song (as is most of the album), and I’m not even going to attempt to analyze her lyrics but the song is essentially what it says, about witnessing a murder. Sounds morbid, but you don’t get that feel when you listen to that song.
“Love & Pride” is one of my favorites from the album. It is a love song (what can I say? I’m a sucker) about being humble for your lover and loving him through thick and thin. The song really showcases Alana Davis’ vocals, you can really appreciate the unique quality that her voice has on this song. She sings: “Take me the hand, and help me move my mountain aside. Help me understand because love is stronger than pride…” It’s a simple song with simple lyrics that comes up flawlessly. It’s her stand by man song (every album has one) and it’s fun and endearing all at the same time.
If you enjoy music this is a good album to have because all of the songs run about 5 minutes because there is a focus on the music as well as the actual songs. There is an opportunity on each song to appreciate what’s going on in the background of things in case you were too busy lyric analyzing to appreciate it. As far as instruments go Davis is no slouch, she herself plays the acoustic guitar, the twelve string guitar, the tremolo and her vocal chords. And it’s so refreshing when artists play instruments and play them well.
“Crazy” is another strong song from the album (even though they are all good) and it’s another just fun song about being defiant. “I’m not completely, I’m maybe just a little bit crazy…” The song praises individuality in the face of sameness and it’s up tempo song. Fun to listen to when you’re up and moving around. My favorite song from the album is “Free” It is one of the best scorned lover songs you will ever hear. And as I’m classifying these songs, I hope that as a reader, you are not put off by them, because although they are apt descriptions of the feel of the songs, you have to hear them to appreciate the power of them. On “Free” she sings “I remember that long, long December we shared, I can still taste the air. You were open and I was hopin you cared, hoping that you would be there for me. That’s the way it was meant to be, but I guess baby your heart was free. Free to take the best part of me and leave a hole where my heart should be, where it used to be.”
As a debut, the album is so good because you wonder how it’s possible that she got to be so good, and then you don’t care because you’ll love this album. It is an album I am willing to stand by and have recommended to my friends. I’ve given it as a gift, I make my friends listen to it, and I as sit listening to it while I write this review I remember how much I love it.
Track Listing
32 Flavors
Murder
Love & Pride
Turtle
One Day
Crazy
Weigh of the World
Lullaby
Free
Round & Round
Rest of Yesterday
Blame it on me
If you like Alana Davis you might like these artists: Joan Osborne, Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, Ani Difranco, Natalie Merchant or Sarah McLachlan
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