IMELDA MAY
''MORE MAYHEM''
SEPTEMBER 12 2011
72:01
1 - Pulling The Rug/3:50
2 - Psycho/2:50
3 - Mayhem/2:44
4 - Kentish Town Waltz/4:48
5 - All For You/2:48
6 - Eternity/3:13
7 - Inside Out/3:26
8 - Proud And Humble/3:58
9 - Sneaky Freak/3:01
10 - Bury My Troubles/3:04
11 - Too Sad To Cry/4:22
12 - I'm Alive/3:49
13 - Let Me Out/3:19
14 - Tainted Love/2:44
15 - Johnny Got A Boom Boom/2:34
16 - Road Runner/3:02
17 - Gypsy/3:25
18 - Blues Calling/4:49
19 - Walking After Midnight/2:47
20 - Inside Out/3:12
21 - Proud And Humble/3:13
Imelda May/Vocals, Bodhram
Darrel Higham/Guitars
Al Gare/Upright Bass, Bass, Ukelele
Steve Rushton/Drums
Dave Priseman/Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Percussion
John Quinn/Fiddle On 4
Stewart Johnson/Steel Guitar On 12, 19
Olly Wilby/Clarinet On 7
Andy Wood/Trombone On 7
Dean Beresford/Drums On 15
Graeme Flowers/Trumpet On 20
Barnaby Dickinson/Trombone On 20
REVIEW
by Jon O'Brien
Trying to sustain the momentum of 2011, a year which has seen her perform in front of Barack Obama, tour the U.S. with Jeff Beck, and reach the U.K. Top Ten for the first time, Irish rockabilly revivalist Imelda May's international breakthrough album, Mayhem, is the latest chart hit to receive the deluxe edition treatment. Keeping her in the public eye may be a smart move on behalf of the record label, but the loyal fan base who bought the original are likely to feel short-changed by the slim new pickings on offer. Whereas recent reissues by the likes of Lady Gaga and Ellie Goulding have treated audiences to almost an entirely new extra studio album, the imaginatively titled More Mayhem only features six additional tracks, two of which are remixes. Nevertheless, the four brand-new recordings are more than worthy of taking their place in her increasingly popular back catalog. With its fast-paced surf guitars, galloping percussion, and May's feverish tones, "Road Runner" doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, but it's an infectious example of what she does best; "Gypsy" is a charming slice of old-fashioned country interspersed with Wild West-style whistles, and "Blues Calling" shows that the convincing attempt at funereal blues on "Too Sad to Cry" was no fluke, as May mournfully croons her way around a backdrop of smoky jazz trumpets and twanging guitars. A playful take on Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" is a nice accompaniment to "Tainted Love," the album's only covers, but apart from the slight Latin twist to "Inside Out" and a rawer production on "Proud and Humble," the two "remixes" tacked on at the end are pretty much indistinguishable from the originals. The new material here would have undoubtedly meant more value for the money if it had been released separately as an EP, but for any casual fans yet to put their hand in their pockets for Mayhem, this More edition is still worth the extra cost.
BIOGRAPHY
by Chris True
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Imelda May is a unique vocal talent, one whose gift lies outside the normal order of pop culture time and trends. Inspired by the sounds of vocal jazz à la Billie Holiday and the sound and looks of rockabilly, May began performing with the swing outfit Blue Harlem, and released a handful of independent CDs before scoring attention in 2007 with her nomination for an award as Best Burlesque Singer as well as the release of her more official debut, Love Tattoo. The album, featuring her strong backing band comprised of players Dave Priseman, Darrell Higham, Al Gare, and Steve Rushton, was critically and commercially well received, leading to some high-profile live gigs, including hitting the road with Jools Holland. It was released in the U.S.A. by Decca in 2009, followed by two singles, and scored a mid-level success. Her sophomore effort, Mayhem, arrived in September of 2010, preceded by the single "Psycho."
''MORE MAYHEM''
SEPTEMBER 12 2011
72:01
1 - Pulling The Rug/3:50
2 - Psycho/2:50
3 - Mayhem/2:44
4 - Kentish Town Waltz/4:48
5 - All For You/2:48
6 - Eternity/3:13
7 - Inside Out/3:26
8 - Proud And Humble/3:58
9 - Sneaky Freak/3:01
10 - Bury My Troubles/3:04
11 - Too Sad To Cry/4:22
12 - I'm Alive/3:49
13 - Let Me Out/3:19
14 - Tainted Love/2:44
15 - Johnny Got A Boom Boom/2:34
16 - Road Runner/3:02
17 - Gypsy/3:25
18 - Blues Calling/4:49
19 - Walking After Midnight/2:47
20 - Inside Out/3:12
21 - Proud And Humble/3:13
Imelda May/Vocals, Bodhram
Darrel Higham/Guitars
Al Gare/Upright Bass, Bass, Ukelele
Steve Rushton/Drums
Dave Priseman/Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Percussion
John Quinn/Fiddle On 4
Stewart Johnson/Steel Guitar On 12, 19
Olly Wilby/Clarinet On 7
Andy Wood/Trombone On 7
Dean Beresford/Drums On 15
Graeme Flowers/Trumpet On 20
Barnaby Dickinson/Trombone On 20
REVIEW
by Jon O'Brien
Trying to sustain the momentum of 2011, a year which has seen her perform in front of Barack Obama, tour the U.S. with Jeff Beck, and reach the U.K. Top Ten for the first time, Irish rockabilly revivalist Imelda May's international breakthrough album, Mayhem, is the latest chart hit to receive the deluxe edition treatment. Keeping her in the public eye may be a smart move on behalf of the record label, but the loyal fan base who bought the original are likely to feel short-changed by the slim new pickings on offer. Whereas recent reissues by the likes of Lady Gaga and Ellie Goulding have treated audiences to almost an entirely new extra studio album, the imaginatively titled More Mayhem only features six additional tracks, two of which are remixes. Nevertheless, the four brand-new recordings are more than worthy of taking their place in her increasingly popular back catalog. With its fast-paced surf guitars, galloping percussion, and May's feverish tones, "Road Runner" doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, but it's an infectious example of what she does best; "Gypsy" is a charming slice of old-fashioned country interspersed with Wild West-style whistles, and "Blues Calling" shows that the convincing attempt at funereal blues on "Too Sad to Cry" was no fluke, as May mournfully croons her way around a backdrop of smoky jazz trumpets and twanging guitars. A playful take on Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" is a nice accompaniment to "Tainted Love," the album's only covers, but apart from the slight Latin twist to "Inside Out" and a rawer production on "Proud and Humble," the two "remixes" tacked on at the end are pretty much indistinguishable from the originals. The new material here would have undoubtedly meant more value for the money if it had been released separately as an EP, but for any casual fans yet to put their hand in their pockets for Mayhem, this More edition is still worth the extra cost.
BIOGRAPHY
by Chris True
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Imelda May is a unique vocal talent, one whose gift lies outside the normal order of pop culture time and trends. Inspired by the sounds of vocal jazz à la Billie Holiday and the sound and looks of rockabilly, May began performing with the swing outfit Blue Harlem, and released a handful of independent CDs before scoring attention in 2007 with her nomination for an award as Best Burlesque Singer as well as the release of her more official debut, Love Tattoo. The album, featuring her strong backing band comprised of players Dave Priseman, Darrell Higham, Al Gare, and Steve Rushton, was critically and commercially well received, leading to some high-profile live gigs, including hitting the road with Jools Holland. It was released in the U.S.A. by Decca in 2009, followed by two singles, and scored a mid-level success. Her sophomore effort, Mayhem, arrived in September of 2010, preceded by the single "Psycho."
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