Memphis rock and soul

"Memphis Rock and Soul -- meaning the kind of integrated, funky, swampy R&B-rock hybrid cranked out of Memphis' American Sound Studio in the late '60s, music that often saw release on the Stax imprint -- is certainly well within the wheelhouse of Melissa Etheridge, who has emphasized the bluesy, soulful undercurrent in her voice since her eponymous 1988 debut. Arriving nearly 30 years after that album, Memphis Rock and Soul -- released on a revived Stax by Concord Records -- is faithful and loving to the original versions, preserving the arrangements but sometimes allowing the band to vamp a bit ...".

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"That secret ingredient, of course, is grit, and while Etheridge has a fine amount of it in her voice-and, it should also be noted, it's not like she's historically been a slouch when it comes to vocal prowess-it doesn't match the amount or the type that it takes to successfully embody these songs. Couple that with the reality that these performances too often feel like they've been processed through a Big Shiny Pop Machine, and what you have is a soul record that lacks soul".

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