ANA POPOVIC "STILL MAKING HISTORY" Source: SonicJive.Com Date: 08/2009 Writer: Michael Canter

The world is a better place thanks to the union of Ana Popovic and producer Mark Dearnley (AC/DC, PAUL McCARTNEY, TOM PETTY and many more) on Ana's latest release "Blind For Love".  Recalling great purveyors of unabashedly blistering female blues rock and soul, such as Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin, "Blind For Love" is both a sublime and full-bodied release. Popovic is indeed a heavy presence on this effort; she wrote and arranged all of the tracks, and co-produced the CD as well as providing lead guitar and vocals. This is an outstanding and very polished release that is at often times magnificent.  The music herein will simply sweep you away. 

The energizing "Nothing Personal" kicks off the disc, a straight-ahead blues and rock number that is the first single release from the CD. Unveiling her backing band, the song features a number of highlights in addition to Popovic's guitar work.  The backing vocals are strong and add a gospel-like feel, and the interplay between Ana and keyboardist Mike Finnigan is a strength here.   "Nothing Personal" segues perfectly into the second track, "Wrong Woman".

Have you ever heard a song with a defining moment that was so good upon first listen that you have actually muttered "Are you kidding me....." to yourself (in, of course, the most complimentary and reverent sense of the phrase)?  Some examples include the church organ on the Beatles "Let It Be", the opening riff of Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Pride and Joy" and Keith Richards' feedback on "Gimme Shelter".  Add Ana's guitar solo at the end of "Wrong Woman" to the list.  At precisely 2:46 into the song Popovic takes an anthemic and very good, yet formulaic rock number and launches it into stratospheric territory with a fervently passionate guitar solo that will literally melt your speakers. 

By not leaning completely on the tried and true, sometimes too-precious roots of blues music, Popovic adds elements of funk and rhythm for a strikingly new authenticity and the result is a pleasing and crafty vignette.  With a blistering arrangement reminiscent of Prince (yes, Prince) and James Brown, "Lives That Don't Exist" is an incredibly funky example, an eclectic traverse of blues, rock and funk that melds perfectly.  Popovic provides a white-hot guitar solo to the stellar work of bassist Ronald Jonker to create an infectious groove replete with drop-dead trumpet and sax accompaniment from Darrel Leonard and Joe Sublett that is a full-tilt boogie. 

Popovic demonstrates a more soulful and jazzy side as well as her range and musical diversity on the title song "Blind For Love".  Vocally, Ana is strong here, reaching the upper level of her range smoothly and with little effort. She also accentuates great jazz guitar with the use of a slide, and the song is a welcome break in the flow of the disc.  Popovic is equally strong on 'More Real" which is again a downtempo, jazzy number, but with a more classic feel to her guitar work in the mold of Mark Knopfler. "More Real" and "The Only Reason" are the best of the downtempo numbers on the disc.

As far as flat out blues numbers, on "Blues For M." Popovic goes all out here and succeeds, and likely draws comparisons to Janis Joplin.  This is classic blues, down and dirty, vocally aching and accentuated by her tremendous guitar solo.  The fretwork is astounding, picking up the pace when necessary to evoke Popovic's true feelings here.  If one were to make the comparison to Joplin, then make no mistake, vocally her range far exceeds Ms. Joplin and the passion is right on par, so there is that validation.

Other highlights include "Putting Out The APB", "Get Back Home To You" and my personal favorite ".

Some of the previous reviews for this CD have labeled "Blind For Love" as a blues CD, but that is too limiting and somewhat incorrect.  "Blind For Love" is a blues, rock, funk and soul hybrid that showcases Ana Popovic's stunning guitar work as well as her vocal abilities and musical diversity in a number of genre-bending tracks.  The arrangements and production are top notch, and Popovic's abilities as a musician and songwriter are unquestionably first-rate.  This a CD you will want to add to your collection and keep in heavy rotation on your personal playlist.