ANA POPOVIC "UNCONDITIONAL" Source: American Blues News Date: 09/2011 Writer: n/a

Ana Popovic "Unconditional"

OK, first things first… the CD cover. I have always been a big fan of Ana's, both musically and visually. I have always liked that she can look attractive, but more girl next door like before her shows and then transforms herself into a sexy guitar goddess when she appears onstage 15 minutes later. I am not a huge fan of the cd cover, not because she doesn't look great, but because I personally wouldn't buy a cd just for the cover. ANA has worked hard over the years to achieve the clean cut image she has, and this cover only serves to help some people perhaps not take her serious as the great musician she is. I know I will get slammed for my opinion on the cover, but I think ANA expects to hear a lot of different thoughts about it.

Now for the GOOD news. I really like this CD. ANA has progressed nicely from her early days of being the "next big thing" and there are no signs of her letting up anytime soon. ANA has always been a unique musician and her guitar and vocal styles are unmistakably HER sound. The great Ronnie Earl has been one of Ana's biggest inspirations during her career, and his influence on her style is clear on this CD. I'm not prepared to put ANA in this class of musicians at this point in her career, but ANA is still in her early 30′s, and with her busy touring schedule and her improvement on each CD, it isn't unthinkable that her career could be headed for bigger and better headlining shows in her career.

There appears to be a heavy Steely Dan influence on You're Love Ain't Real. The guitar break near the middle of the song sounds like an early Steely Dan recording. I know she has expressed her respect for the music of Steely Dan, and ANA has the knack of taking someone else's song or musical style and making it her own, and ANA does the Dan duo of Fagen and Becker proud on this tune. I find myself going back to this song even if just for the guitar break. ANA'S cover of Koko Taylor's Voodoo Woman features some pretty good vocals from ANA along with some good slide guitar work which is her specialty. Slideshow is a nice piece of work featuring the great Sonny Landreth trading slide work with ANA. Two very good slide guitarists sharing the limelight in the only all instrumental song on the CD. If you enjoy excellent slide guitar, turn the volume up on this one. Jason Ricci does his usual outstanding harmonica work on Count Me in, a rocking tune that features ANA and Jason trading off "solos" throughout the song. Unconditional features ANA's much improved vocals and songwriting skills along with her always stellar guitar work. Reset Rewind is a nice mellow tune which recalls memories of The Weight by The Band.

All in all, this is a pretty good CD … ANA'S best to date. She has shown steady improvement on each CD release, and this one is no exception. This CD was produced by ANA and Grammy winner John Porter who also produced her previous CD titled Still Making History. This CD also includes her best vocals to date. If you are new to ANA'S music, pick this CD up and crank up the volume. It just may become a regular on your CD player or ipod. If you are a fan from "way back", I would definitely recommend this CD be added to your blues collection.