The brassy Canadian-born New Zealand vocalist Tami Neilson follows-up her feminist call to arms on 2018’s Sassafrass with her fifth album, CHICKABOOM! Much like the last album, Neilson brings her trademark soul/country/rockabilly mash-up and big personality together for another set of music inspired by ‘50’s and ‘60’s era sounds. Neilson is a well-seasoned artist who grew up performing across North America with Canada’s Neilson Family Band, working alongside legends like Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker, and Kitty Wells. With her parents Betty and Ron (her late father a well-respected songwriter) and her two brothers Todd (drums) and Jay (bass), she spent years on the road. On her latest collection, all ten songs except for one were written or co-written by Neilson and lead guitarist Delany Davidson, with her brother Jay on rhythm guitar, bass, and vocals, and Joe McCallum on percussion. Standout tracks include: the fiery “Call Your Mama”; the rockabilly rave-up “Hey! Bus Driver”; the tremolo-guitar driven, hand-clapping “Ten Tonne Truck”; the nursery rhymed “Queenie, Queenie”; the retro twanged “16 Miles of Chain”; the call-and-response rockabilly track “Tell Me That You Love Me’;’ the tender ‘50’s country ditty, “Any Fool with a Heart”; and the hand-clapped gospel tune “Sister Mavis.” Neilson is a singer that is a bit Patsy Cline and a bit Wanda Jackson who delivers heart-rending ballads and in the next moment scorching rockers. Neilson’s powerful vocals, sharp-witted songwriting, and big personality make CHICKABOOM! one of 2020’s most fun albums of the year. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Wanda Jackson, Janis Martin, Sparkle Moore, Dusty Springfield, Kitty Wells