Mayhem - Imelda May

Imelda May, winner of the 2009 Meteor Award for best female artist, is an Irish-born rockabilly revival singer,  influenced by Elvis, Wanda Jackson, and Billie Holiday.  Imelda released her third album, 'Mayhem', in 2010 (yeah, so I'm a little behind on my reviews, get off me).  She writes of relationships, love and the inevitable obsession that accompanies them (what? isn't it inevitable?  just me? okay).  Imelda's style, both musically and sartorially, is rockabilly greaser, touched with jazz and blues.  I have added learning to put a liberty curl in my hair to my bucket list.  Lately I've been really into the rockabilly revival, following artists like Sally Ford and the Sound Outside and JD McPherson, both of whom are bringing back this danceable country-influenced rock 'n' roll genre from the fifties and sixties.  Imelda May came on the scene in 2003, making her one of the pioneers.

On 'Mayhem', the title track and the single 'Psycho' showcase Imelda's particular brand of neo-rockabilly as well as her vocal acrobatics.  'Kentish Town Waltz' is a sickly sweet love song at first listen but upon closer inspection reveals itself to be a bit more cynical in its definition of true and lasting love ('We killed each other and loved in time').  Plus it taught me my new favorite term of endearment - "mo chroi"or "my heart" in Gaelic.  In other tracks she reveals her obsessive tendencies ('All For You') but at least she admits it in 'Sneaky Freak' ("I'm creepy!  I'm sneaky!  I'm freaky!").  Billie Holiday's influence is bewitchingly apparent in 'Too Sad To Cry', a jazzy track punctuated by moody horns that reveals vulnerability for which Imelda's sultry voice is a perfect medium.  'Proud and Humble' touches on religion and she does a passable, if not particularly inspired, cover of 'Tainted Love'.

Overall, 'Mayhem' hits its high points with the jazz and rockabilly throwbacks 'Psycho', 'Mayhem', and 'Too Sad To Cry'.  'Eternity' and 'Inside Out', frankly, are a little frightening ("I love your bones and your sticks and stones... I love your wits and your wobbly bits", though I gotta admit I adore those terms -- wobbly bits -- hehehe).  'I'm Alive' and 'Proud and Humble' are a bit too cheesy, lyrics are pushing it on the trying too hard scale for me.  There were points where I really wish she would have taken her voice to the next level.  I think she could have gotten more strength out of it, and what a lovely, strong voice it is.  I'd give this album a 6.7.

She's certainly got a point about this part of our lives we call 'love', though.  Mayhem, indeed.

Dear Brian

Today was one of those days.  One of those days when nothing in particular is wrong but nothing is right.  Hope is gone; the world is wrong.  You know... Monday.

I think of you often but I don't feel sad often.  I think maybe something is wrong with me.  Why don't I miss you more?  Why aren't I more sad?  Or at least, sad more often?

I'm trying to pack up the hotel room but I can't.  Someone said something, it bugged me more than it should have so I am laying in bed and watching darkness fall over the parking lot and the canal.  It reminded me of you.  Something has been reminding me of you a lot lately... what?

I remember the time, when our friendship was young, you told me I was too good for any of the punks in this town (thank you for that).  I think about when you and I left that party so we could go skateboarding at the OM park.  That night, you told me one day when you were rich you would pay for all the single mothers in town to go on a spa day (still waiting).  I try to imagine putting together a trivia team without you on it.  What's the point?  I remember when we got drunk and ate Jilberto's and rocked out in your bedroom until dawn.  When your girlfriend broke up with you because you wouldn't tell me I couldn't sleep in your bed... with you in it... with no pants on.  All of the times you visited me in Boulder.  When you came to my mom's funeral.  When you came to Old Chicago after my mom's funeral and told me... shit.  I can't remember what you said after my mom's funeral.  Well isn't that the pits?

Remember when me and you and Derek went to Village Inn and I got a "you park like an asshole" card on my windshield?

How about more recently... like when you came to help LeeAnna and I with our shit hole rental?  And picked up that dresser and carried it out all by yourself?  God I thought you were going to break yourself... but you didn't.  Or when I was having such a crap summer and got drunk by myself and you and Mark came and played Trivial Pursuit with me all night?  And then when I started puking you carried me to bed... at least I think you did.

Why are you gone?

Darkness fell.  Horizon Drive is hideous.