Reckless Heart
Reckless Heart makes good use of Joanne Shaw Taylor's strongest qualities: a rough, expressive voice and guitar playing with a clear sense of purpose. Recorded in Detroit with producer Al Sutton, the album has a lively band sound that gives familiar blues-rock forms plenty of energy. Its best moments come from the space between that direct playing and the softer soul touches in the arrangements.
In the Mood is an effective opener. The guitar and drums push the song forward, with piano adding extra movement around the riff. Taylor sounds ready to take charge from the first section. The title track then lowers the pressure, using a slower groove and a gospel feel to give her voice more room.
The Best Thing brings a stronger pop hook into the sequence. The melody is easy to hold onto, and the guitar keeps enough weight beneath it. New 89 takes a rougher route, with a loose boogie rhythm and a more forceful rock character. These changes help the record avoid relying on the same pace throughout.
The slower songs are just as important. I've Been Loving You Too Long allows the performance to build at length, while I'm Only Lonely makes more room for Hammond organ and a quieter guitar part. Break My Heart Anyway offers an acoustic change of texture. The closing Jake's Boogie is even less polished, ending the record with a small, direct performance instead of another large band arrangement.
There is a limit to how surprising this music can be. The classic-rock language is familiar, and some of the vocal approaches repeat as the album moves on. Taylor's skill does not always turn an established idea into a distinctive new song. Listeners who want a major change to the genre may find the writing too safe.
Even so, Reckless Heart has enough movement and character to make those familiar forms enjoyable. The band supports the singing well, and Taylor knows when a guitar line needs to push harder or leave a gap. It is a strong blues-rock set whose confidence comes from clear performances and well-judged changes of pace.
