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.
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