Artist : Amanda Shires

Album : Take It Like A Man

Release Date : 29-07-2022

Added : 25-08-2022

Direction the United States with the seventh studio recording 'Take It Like A Man' of the American singer and violinist 'Amanda Shires' whose previous opus I reviewed 'To the Sunset' and which is now available since the end of July. In the meantime, she created the formation 'The Highwomen' with 'Brandi Carlile', 'Natalie Hemby' and 'Maren Morris' and whose first eponymous album of the group was released in 2019. In parallel, she continues her solo career accompanied by her husband 'Jason Isbell' and this latest baby shows an evolution of style partly printed by 'Lawrence Rothman' whom she had met when she had decided to stop the song, because we navigate in more intimate compositions alternating dark but so moving atmospheres and others much lighter.

From the start, we are under the spell of 'Hawk for the Dove' (see the video above) which shows a tormented face in a heavy and moving atmosphere while having a melodious melodic frame and 'Take it Like A Man', although more measured, continues in this striking climate in which Amanda's singing is of a palpable emotion that triggers the shiver so characteristic of deep listening emotion. With 'Empty Cups' (see the video here with 'Maren Morris'), the style is more serene, and we are pleasantly lulled by the melancholy melodic lines, then, 'Don't Be Alarmed' is a magnificent semi-acoustic ballad in which the crescendo brings an extraordinary force. Follows 'Fault Lines' which adds another fantastic emotional layer that Amanda' uses as a means of communication with her husband 'Jason Isbell' when the exchanges are no longer sufficient then, 'Here He Comes' slightly relieves the pressure with a composition lively while continuing to talk about complicated human relations topics. We remain musically in a more carefree atmosphere with 'Bad Behavior' (see the video here) and 'Stupid Love' which continue to deal with her relationship issues then, the singing of 'Amanda wants to be more playful on 'Lonely At Night' which shows a more classic face in a blues club atmosphere, the album ending with the beautiful melancholy ballad 'Everything Has Its Time'.

In summary, we can only thank 'Lawrence Rothman' for having stood firm against 'Amanda Shires' to offer her tailor-made compositions that she transcends throughout this album and 'Take It Like A Man' is a very emotional album which should reach a large audience, fans of moving songs on beautiful melodies...

Line Up / Musicians

Amanda Shires (Vocal, Violin), Lawrence Rothman (Keybords, Percussions, Guitar), Jason Isbell (Guitar), Fred Eltringham (Drums, Percussions), Julian Dorio (Drums, Percussions), Jimbo Hart (Bass), Peter Levin (Keybords, Organ, Piano), Brittney Spencer (Choirs), Maren Morris (Choirs), Austin Hoke (Cello), Kristin Weber (Violin), Kris Wilkinson (Viola), Ben Zelico (Keybords, Mellotron), Peter Stroud (Guitar), Audley Freed (Guitar), Marc Franklin (Trumpet), Art Edmaiston (Saxophone), Kirk Smothers (Saxophone), Kameron Whalum (Trombone)