ANA POPOVIC "STILL MAKING HISTORY" Source: BluesRag | Baltimore Blues Society Date: 12/2009 Writer: Bill Camp

Ana’s latest release is her fifth album featuring an incredibly diverse set of self-penned songs.  Since ‘07’s Still Making History, the Serbian born beauty has been stepping out of the blues a bit and introducing a lot of funky soul in her work.  Blind For Love continues with that, and it’s a smoker.  There’s plenty of her searing Stratocaster to keep it blues based, but horns, chorus and funky rhythms color the album.  Soulful blues with an Aretha flavor peppers the funky “Nothing Personal,” then Ana shifts to hard rockin, blues on “Wrong Woman”, an album standout.  It’s not just her Stratocaster that’s smoking here – try out “Steal Me Away” with its tight acoustic slide.  The title cut will surely garner some interest outside – a jazz-tingled ballad showcasing her outstanding vocals.

“More Real” is another excellent mellow-down-easy tune.  The rockers will love “Get Back Home To You”.  The numerous band members lay down a funk groove that never quits on “Lives That Don’t Exist”.  Ana shows her blues chops on “Blue For M”, a slow piece that is another top cut.  “Blind For Love” has improved on repeated listens for me.  I was taken with her 2005 release “Ana-Live in Amsterdam”, a highly recommended blues burner.  “Blind” has her stepping outside a bit, and it sounds fantastic.