Nobody’s Fool
Nobody's Fool gives Joanne Shaw Taylor's blues-rock sound a more open, melodic shape. Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, the album makes room for pop hooks, soul arrangements and quieter songs. Taylor's guitar still matters, but her voice often takes the lead. The change works best when the production gives a strong melody some extra character.
The title track is an inviting start. Slide guitar and piano give the rhythm an easy movement, with Taylor's singing carrying a chorus that does not need much time to settle in. Bad Blood is darker, using a deep, twanging guitar figure to build towards another clear hook. The two songs establish the record's reach without making the shift in style feel difficult.
Just No Getting Over You (Dream Cruise) brings horns and a strong keyboard groove into the picture. The backing voices add to its lively soul feel, while the guitar gives the arrangement a sharper edge. Won't Be Fooled Again takes a more direct pop-rock route, with Bonamassa joining Taylor on guitar.
The quieter tracks provide a useful change. Fade Away places acoustic guitar, piano and Tina Guo's cello around a restrained, smoky vocal. The Leaving Kind is similarly reflective before a short guitar solo lifts the ending. Both songs show that Taylor can hold attention without asking the band to keep the pressure high.
Missionary Man, the Eurythmics cover featuring Dave Stewart, adds a heavier electronic rhythm. Figure It Out is more forceful still, with Carmen Vandenberg's distorted guitar helping its strong chorus land. New Love then ends the sequence on a brighter note, bringing horns and energetic playing back to the front.
The larger number of guests and styles can make the record feel less concentrated than Taylor's most direct blues work. Its smooth production also leaves some of the rougher guitar character under control. Yet Nobody's Fool has a clear strength in its singing and memorable choruses. It is an enjoyable, accessible album that expands Taylor's range while keeping enough of her playing in view.
