Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
I Learned the Hard Way
Daptone
Apr 15, 2010
Web Exclusive
First lady of Daptone Records Sharon Jones is back with her fourth album, I Learned the Hard Way, swaggering though 12 tracks of classic R&B like the ass-kicking, name-taking mother figure you’ve always wanted.
On “Without a Heart” Jones declares, “You’ll find yourself all alone without a heart.” It quickly becomes clear this isn’t so much a line but a mission statement. Jones’ heart beats for more than just herself, be it symbolically (ceding the stage to backing band The Dap-Kings during “The Reason”), or thematically (see lyrics to most of her catalog). More than just an externally focused Amy Winehouse, Jones’ sentiments feel genuinely road tested. Even when delivering the most divisive of commentaries—including “She Ain’t a Child No More,” a song about the horrors of child abuse—Jones achieves an attitude, not of bitterness, but of authoritative acceptance. This may be the way things are, but she’s not taking it lying down. Showing more sense than most political pundits, Jones opens “Money” with a diatribe about the state of the economy, voice rising to a televangelist squeak as she declares, “Aint nothing evil about money! Because we need that money to pay our bills!” (She’s got my vote for 2012.)
The topic of romance gets its fare amount of play. However Jones keeps it fresh, unafraid—be it from life experience or creative license—to dip into the well-explored topic. Sometimes, her man can’t stop “Window Shopping.” “Give It Back’s” refrain asks, “I give you my love, are you gonna give it back?” Meanwhile, the stripped down lament of album closer, “Mama Don’t Like My Man” looks at a romance in terms of her indispensable maternal relationship. Take all the knocks you want, sing all the catchy hooks you can, but at the end of the day, it’s people who matter—a lesson that Sharon Jones has clearly learned in spades. (www.sharonjonesandthedapkings.com)
Author rating: 8/10
Average reader rating: 0/10
Most Recent
- Under the Radar’s Black Friday Sale 2023 Extended Through Friday – 35% Off Subscriptions (News) —
- Under the Radar’s Black Friday Sale 2023 – 35% Off Subscriptions and 50% Off Back Issues (News) —
- The Cast of “Fargo” Season Five Dissect Their Characters (Interview) —
- Kirin J Callinan Announces Official Release of New Album, Shares New Song “Crazier Idea” (News) — Kirin J Callinan
- Premiere: Bats Shares New Single “Going For Oysters” (News) — Bats
Comments
Submit your comment
February 11th 2011
7:31pm
I opine that to get the personal loans from creditors you should have a firm reason. Nevertheless, once I have got a term loan, just because I wanted to buy a bike.
May 13th 2011
6:39am
I propose not to hold off until you get enough money to buy different goods! You can take the loan or short term loan and feel yourself free
July 9th 2011
5:04pm
If you are in the corner and have no cash to go out from that, you will have to take the loans. Because it would aid you emphatically. I take sba loan every time I need and feel myself fine because of this.
August 29th 2011
11:18pm
That is perfect that we can get the business loans and it opens up new possibilities.
October 8th 2011
9:38am
Various people in all countries get the personal loans in various creditors, because this is comfortable.
March 23rd 2012
10:09am
Some time before, I really needed to buy a building for my organization but I did not have enough cash and could not purchase anything. Thank God my brother proposed to try to take the business loans at trustworthy creditors. Hence, I acted that and was satisfied with my commercial loan.
June 11th 2013
9:48pm
Best college essay writing service is , if you look here and purchase essays from the first-rate team of writers.
June 16th 2013
8:29am
I ought to confess that buying essay at online writing services is completely amazing idea. Don’t ruin the chance to buy custom research papers that will be marked with the highest grades.
June 19th 2013
11:54am
Are you still seeking for best writing paper assistance? Quit your search, visit this website and order college term papers and you will never regret.
August 19th 2013
1:03am
But if schoolchilds are busy to compose papers by themselves, they only need to go to their web page and obtain assistance in research essay writing from top notch essay writing service.