Janiva Magness - Back For Me - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Janiva Magness - Bury Him at the Crossroads [COMPACT DISCS] date 09/07/2004

A blues star quickly crossing over to a larger audience. Multiple Blues Music Award-winner delivers her finest album with the soulful intensity of STRONGER FOR IT, her first to feature her striking original songs.

Powered by her signature take on blues and rock, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cristina Vane's debut album, Nowhere Sounds Lovely, earned her praise from the likes of American Songwriter and Rolling Stone Country, which deemed it 'mesmerizing stuff'. The 2021 was written largely on a road trip across America. Since then, Vane has laid down roots in Nashville and had the opportunity to spend more time exploring internally. On her sophomore album InchMake Myself Me AgainInch, Vane has found a way all the way around the country and right back to herself, both musically and personally. Many songs on Make Myself Me Again delve into Vane's personal relationships, and document her quest to find strength and independence in a new town. The album's title track rings of tenacious resilience, with Cristina's beautiful yet understated fingerstyle and slide guitar playing. It is the sound of the calm that comes with finally feeling at home with one's self. InchSometimes I lose, sometimes I winInch sings Vane, InchI'm gonna make myself me again... I'm giving up on giving in / I'm gonna make myself me againInch. One can hear Nashville's influence throughout the album; From the twang in her song InchSmall Town Nashville BluesInch, to the country-influenced melodic songwriting on InchOld EnoughInch. Despite the myriad of musical touchstones, the record remains cohesive, centering itself around Vane's experiences and musicianship. InchAfter being exposed to all of this music that I love, I'm slowly figuring out how to find my own voiceInch, she says, InchIt is the sound of growing upInch. With class and adventure, Vane brings us all back home to ourselves on Make Myself Me Again, an album so honest that you'd be hard-pressed not to root for it, along with it's vulnerable and tenacious creator.