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Home Of The Brave Martha Redbone Blackfeet Productions, 2001 
Buy it online Reviewed by Sienna Powers
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I like thinking about how Martha Redbone accidentally became a singer: it's a good story, with shadows of the old Hollywood magic (Lana Turner at the soda counter in a drugstore) happily transfered to the music business. Redbone, who had studied art and design, was doing some illustrations for George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars Mothership Reconnection project. While in Clinton's sphere, at some point someone stuck a mic in Redbone's face and, ultimately, a new career was born. From this experience, her first credit is a good one: she sings backgrounds on Clinton's 1996 album T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (The Awesome Power of a Fully Operational Mothership). While, unlike Lana, superstardom was not the next step, Redbone's first album, Home Of The Brave, makes you think that state might not be too far behind. The album is published by Blackfeet Productions, a project that seems to be comprised entirely of Redbone and writing partner and co-producer, Aaron Whitby. What makes this fact -- this self-publication -- remarkable is Home Of The Brave's solid and entirely listenable qualities. There is nothing home made about Redbone's first album: nothing to hint that Redbone -- depicted lying languidly on the CD's cover -- and her company made Home Of The Brave pretty much with their own little hands. A part of this finished quality is certainly attributable to the musicians Redbone has chosen to work with here. Engineer Bob Brockman has worked with Christina Aguilera, Laurie Anderson, Babyface and Mary J. Blige. Another engineer, Tom Cassel, has lent his skills to Faith Evans, Bertie Higgins, Kansas and Yngwie Malmsteen. Guitarist Fred Cash has worked with Curtis Mayfield, Eric Clapton and Billy Preston to name just (an impressive) few. Partner Whitby is no slouch himself, having engineered for Natalie Cole and written songs for Shola Ama and Jasmine. I could go on, but in addition to the chanteuse, Home Of The Brave boasts a pretty celebrated roster. None of this would make much difference if Redbone weren't so obviously ready for the limelight. In a world where soul divas seem to fall performance-ready from the trees, Martha Redbone offers up a big voice (big enough to invite frequent comparisons to Aretha) and the desire to say something with it. While most of the 13 (14 if you count the bonus) tracks on Home Of The Brave are unashamedly hook laden, the music that backs it is intricate and interesting and the lyrics are intelligent and often humorous. "Boyfriend," tells the story of meeting an attractive man at a Starbucks and falling for him quickly: even after she discovers he's gay: Even all the times we hung out on platonic dates/ In "Liar" Redbone sings sweetly that: I wrote the book on bad relationships And later, in the chorus: So you win the game Smart and strikingly tight, Home Of The Brave is original and delightful. | February 2002 |
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