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Candye
Kane
The Toughest Girl Alive
Calling herself and her new album The Toughest Girl Alive
(Rounder Records) might be overstating things a bit, but I wouldn't
want to be the one to say this to Candye Kane's face. She is a
big woman—big in stature, big in attitude. And she comes
out swinging with the title track. "Don't push my buttons
or you'll agree / I can leave a path of misery." Who am I
to argue?
Candye
Kane certainly has the chops to back such a bold proclamation.
While she favors a big band uptown blues sound, all boogie-woogie
piano (provided on a few tracks by Louisiana?Austin master Marcia
Call) and biting guitar solos, she covers an impressive amount
of ground on her newest album. There's gospel ("One More
Day (Without your Love)"), smooth jazz ("Highway of
Tears"), and deep soul ("Didn't We?"), all anchored
by Candye's robust singing. The production is fine and the band
swings and rocks.
What
truly makes Candye a remarkable performer is her take-no-prisoners
sass. She definitely puts a thoroughly modern spin on the proceedings
that is downright hilarious at times. "(Hey Mister!) She
was My Baby Last Night" is taunting call to hipsters who
think they've got it going on while not really having a clue.
"Let's Commit Adultery" is, well, self-evident.
You
get the feeling that Candye Kane would be incredibly entertaining
during a live show. Just don't point me out in the crowd.
—Christian
Puffer
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