…I was excited to see this one in my mailbox. Tricia Freeman does not disappoint. She shows herself to be an excellent singer and storyteller…with a powerful voice, this is an album you should add to your collection.
My introduction to Tricia Freeman came several years ago when I saw her perform at the Doheny Blues Festival. I remember being pretty impressed so I was excited to see Everyone Can See show up in my mailbox.
One thing is readily apparent when you first put this album on. Tricia Freeman can sing. Her raspy vocals in “Thought You Was the One” not only remind me of Janis Joplin, but also are perfect for the blues that she sings. At other points in the album (“Ashes to Ashes” for example,) her vocals remind me of Melissa Etheridge. If you want another example of Freeman sounding like Melissa Etheridge, listen to “Tell Me”. The biggest difference is that Freeman’s song includes some wicked slide guitar to go with her gritty vocals.
Freeman shows she can sing a good boogie woogie song with “Mama, He Treats your Daughter Mean.” The beginning of this song brings John Lee Hooker to mind. The theme of this song is a classic one in the blues. It’s about a no-good, lazy lout who doesn’t treat his woman right. And the mama addressed in this song probably couldn’t agree more that the lunkhead in question isn’t good enough for her daughter.
As I mentioned, I was excited to see this one in my mailbox. Tricia Freeman does not disappoint. She shows herself to be an excellent singer and storyteller in these 12 songs that range from ballads and gritty blues tunes to an old-time mellow swing (“Everyone Can See”) with a clarinet and a violin. If you like female singers with a powerful voice, this is an album you should add to your collection.
~ -Schwindy’s Indie Music Spotlight (the Examiner.com), April 6, 2012