Search - Rory Block :: Confessions of a Blues Singer

Confessions of a Blues Singer is a confessional indeed; in addition to ten top-rate blues and blues-oriented tracks (including a rendition of "Titanic (When That Great Ship Went Down)" that is the perfect antidote to Celine Dion overexposure), there are two testimonial songs, epic in length, that close the disc. "Mother Marian," the first of these, is in the best folk-ballad style, chronicling the years of a woman who clearly had quite an influence on Block's life. The second, "Life Song," is similar--except it's a testimonial of Block herself, dealing with two central themes: music and family. While these two tracks lack some of the energy in the shorter, more active blues tunes, a performer of Block's talent may be forgiven the impulse to wax poetic once in a while, especially when the results are as good as this. And Block's love and respect for the traditional blues that has been her stock in trade is evident on every note of this CD. --Genevieve Williams