CANDYE KANE "SISTER VAGABOND" Source: Muzik Reviews Date: 07/2011 Writer: Dana Wright

Candye Kane: Sister Vagabond - Pick of the Week

Candye Kane is the jump blues phenomenon from East Los Angeles who has been rocking the blues scene since she was in her early twenties. She has been listed as one of Dan Akroyd's 30 Essential Women of the Blues and has also won the National Blues Foundation Award for Best Blues Contemporary Female. Sister Vagabond is her eleventh album set for release in August of 2011, produced by Kane and guitarist Laura Chavez.

"Walkin', Talkin' Haunted House" is a soul stirring cauldron bubbling with lyrics that will seep into your mind and stay there. Images of dank, dark rooms, ghost ridden hallways and shadows reaching for you through the walls are transposed with the lamentations of a heart that has been broken and left for dead. The mastery of voice, musical elements and pure theatrical presence of this track make it one of my favorites on the album.

"You Can't Take It Back From Here" swings wide and high, with Chavez's guitar sending out fireballs and Kane belting and growling out lyrics that pin you to your seat. Singing about the environmental disaster that has plagued our age, Kane takes an issue that most of us would rather not think about and thrusts it forward into the lime light, boldly and without shame. She tells us that we "can wish we'd done it different but you can't take it back from here."

"I Deserve Love" is a more traditional song than most of the other tracks on this album. Harmonica's blare and Kane croons about "deserving love" at the end of the day. It is a sweet song that brings back memories of listening to Patsy Cline as a child. This song is the last track on the album and a great way to cap off what has been a wonderful listening experience.
Candye Kane has been many things in her life. Cancer survivor, single mother, activist, pin up cover girl, anarchist, hillbilly punk rocker and singer being among them. She has logged millions of miles on tour all over the world and has been nominated for many blues awards. Her eleventh album, Sister Vagabond is a testament to this extremely talented woman. Every song shows a force of will, humor, sensuality and depth of soul that you don't hear every day. Kane is an artist to pay attention to. Her voice growls, croons and cajoles you into listening and I for one am about to hit the replay button and do just that. This album is one you are going to love. I highly recommend it.