CD REVIEW: MELISSA ETHERIDGE – This Is M.E.

Shane | 19 May 2016 | Reply

CD REVIEW: MELISSA ETHERIDGE – This Is M.E.
Sony
30 September, 2014 – re-released 2016
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8/10

Loneliness is the prevalent theme as Melissa Etheridge’s return-to-form album This Is M.E. (originally released in America in September 2014 and getting a local release now with a sprinkle of magic dust), as she insists she Won’t Be Alone Tonight with its arena-ready anthemic chorus and woah woah woah’s; bumps into an old school friend on the skids and offers them to Take My Number if they need to talk; and reminisces about a failed relationship in A Little Hard Hearted. Her best work has always had a tinge of regret or sadness to it.

In delving deep within Etheridge has seemingly learnt a few things about herself. For one, she invited fans to submit photos of themselves to be made into the collage of her on the cover, declaring, “I wouldn’t be ME without YOU.” It’s a sweet sentiment that her legions of fans lapped up.

Almost thirty years on from her revelatory debut album, This Is M.E. is as vibrant as anything she’s done since, and although it finds her exploring some new musical avenues – including some rocking guitar – as ever it’s her lyrics and throaty purr which strike a chord with her not inconsiderable fanbase.