Search - Christine Ohlman :: Strip

Ohlman, she of the killer pipes and eye-catching platinum blonde beehive hairdo, has outdone herself on her fourth CD, an ultra-soulful package of roots/Americana that?s full of killer grooves courtesy of the flash cats of Rebel Montez (Eric Fletcher-lead guitar; Michael Colbath-bass; Larry Donahue-drums) and special guests Shawn Pelton (Sheryl Crow/Saturday Night Live Band); Andy York (John Mellencamp/Ian Hunter); Brian Mitchell (Al Green/Irma Thomas), Amanda Just (The Rivergods) and The Sin Sisters. Ohlman?s songwriting has kicked up a notch with tracks like the sexy title cut; swamp-pop classic "The Storm;" "Empty," a bare-bones tale of despair spun inside a gorgeous, guitar-laden track; and "Another Country," a saga of terrifying love wrapped around a pile-driving groove. Also included are her usual cast of carefully-chosen covers: "I Am Bound For The Promised Land," straight from the Bristol sessions of 1927; "Daddy Rollin?(In Your Arms)" by that Prince of! the Bronx himself, Dion; "Highway 61," the blues classic rewritten with lyrics dedicated to Ohlman?s late friend Cub Koda; and a slice of savage Brit Invasion pop, "I Can Only Give You Everything," a steamy duet she shares with Joe Hurley of NYC?s Irish punksters Rogues? March. Strip is marked by Ohlman?s attention to arrangement and lyrics underscored by Fletcher, Donahue, and Colbath?s passionate, tight musicianship. The overall feeling of barely-contained, overwhelming emotion pegs this as their best recorded work so far.