CD REVIEW: STACIE COLLINS – Roll The Dice

CD REVIEW: STACIE COLLINS – Roll The Dice
Rev Records
6 November, 2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
9/10

Some albums are just a joy to listen to from start to finish: albums like Stacie Collins’ fifth effort, Roll The Dice.

A favourite of Jason & the Scorchers’ Jason Ringenberg and Warner E Hodges, Collins is married to Al Collins, bass player in JATS, and producer of this record. A quick scan at the liner notes will also reveal other familiar names: guitarists Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites, Homemade Sin) and Audley Freed (Black Crowes, Govt Mule, New Earth Mud, Joe Perry, Dixie Chicks) both feature in Collins’ band, as does drummer Brad Pemberton, a veteran of acts such as Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Gin Wigmore, Willie Nelson and Steve Earle & the Dukes.

All this name-dropping is impressive, but be in no doubt whatsoever that Stacie Collins isn’t calling in reluctant favours: these guys are knocking down her door to work with her and she does the heavy lifting here with her stunningly evocative and strong vocals, squealing harmonica and superb songwriting.

Combining the best of southern rock n’ roll, country, blues and Americana in such a seamlessly entertaining mix that she makes it look easy as she tugs heartstrings one minute (Can’t Do Without You), has you stomping along the next (King Of Rock, Keep Rollin’), chanting out an arena-sized chorus (It’s Over) or sniffing back the tears with a lament to late rocker Jani Lane (Jani).

Put simply, Roll The Dice is an album full of diversity and passion, superlative songs and musicianship, a live-in-the-studio organic feel that you can almost taste, and a record to listen to over and over as it fast becomes a long-time favourite.

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Category: CD Reviews