Niecie - The Other Side

Niecie, The Other Side
(Ride the Tiger Records RDTGR-4330-9)

From rock to blues, to soul and all points in between, Detroit's home-town girl Niecie has got all her bases covered. A lesser artist might spread themselves a tad thin trying to cover so many fronts, but not this talent. Not only does she possess an expressive and appropriately soulful voice but she writes and chooses great material and knows how to surround herself with some of the best players around to interpret it.

A lot of the tunes are born out of a blues tradition but put the emphasis on unique arrangements and pop-oriented hooks. "Strange Way" kicks off the album with a mid-tempo rocker that wouldn't be out of place on one of Eric Clapton or Little Feat's more contemporary projects. "God's Got This" is a clever gospel-flavored funk number that seems quite autobiographical for the leader. Another highlight is Niecie's take on the Isley Brothers' heartfelt hit "Harvest For The World". While no means a religious album it's the choice of material like this that gives this disc real spiritual power. Well done!