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Published On: Thu, Apr 24th, 2014

Joan Osborne: Love and Hate

joan osborneJoan Osborne
Love and Hate
(eOne Music)

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ā€œWhere We Startā€ begins the new Joan Osborne album,Ā Love and Hate. Swirling strings, acoustic guitar and piano undulate under the womanā€™s strong, sloppy (funky?) enunciation.

ā€œWork On Meā€ has a distinctly Latin feel with its snappy clave, violin and classical guitar plucking; thereā€™s a wonderful lyric here, solid backing ā€œahā€™sā€ to Osborneā€™s equally solid vocals. We are into some groovinā€™ 70ā€™s-like sexiness on the positively commercially wonderful ā€œMongrels,ā€ which has funky keys and great electric swirl under Osborneā€™s blues phrasing. This is the first great song on the record for me.

ā€œThirsty For My Tearsā€ is a nice medium rockinā€™ country number with solid lyrics, perfectly played piano and again a pumpinā€™ commercial chorus. This one especially reveals how slyly Osborneā€™s tunes are produced. ā€œLove and Hateā€ sees Osborne picking her perfect slow moments word for word, marrying a piano under her and some low strings. By the time it comes around, we are more than ready for the roiling ā€œKittenā€™s Got Claws.ā€ This oneā€™s got a pulsating bass under Osborneā€™s hurt, the whole concoction just about ready to blow, but never does in a very well-studied arrangement with the vocal really holding it all together.

ā€œSecret Room,ā€ a beautiful song of acoustic guitar and piano,Ā might be the best Osborne vocal here. Things get sexy, nasty, perfectly-so on the Ray Charles-influenced ā€œKeep It Underground.ā€ The Middle Eastern-sounding ā€œRagaā€ is a story song with Osborne once again following the melody line from the acoustic guitar. Itā€™s a wonderful, quick ender.

As it is always the case with Joan Osborne,Ā Love and Hate presents some great songs, wonderful production and the womanā€™s spectacular, expressive voice.

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Joan Osborne: Love and Hate