Lara Price: Half and Half Review

Smorgasbord is a word that is more often applied to food but can equally find its way to describing Half and Half. For those of you not already aware of Lara Price you may find yourself applying it to this album. She is not new to the California blues scene but is to Mike Zito’s Gulf Coast Records label, which led to the album. As a window to her versatility and range the album is a great showcase as it is for the players involved.

Price has been compared to Gladys Knight and Mavis Staples but there is also a bit of Imelda May and Betty Davis in there. For those of you interested in trivia she had piano lessons from Howard Jones ( there’s an 80s name for you).

The album, if you just press play and not shuffle, starts with a blues rock song from Mike Schermer and Felice Garcia, “We’re Still Friends” which makes a good opener. Nothing Earth shattering but well done and with Zito’s production and influence it makes a good radio song. “Evidence,” with a funky bass line, tasty guitar, and even a funky sax break is next up along with a vocal with lots of attitude. “Fools like Me” would not be out of place on a Dave Edmondsor Nick Lowe album.

“Thing’s Ain’t Everything” is Motownish with the “Love is” motif counterpointed against an anti-consumerism theme. Unlikely to get radio airplay as would be said in a previous time.  It will get your feet taping though.

Then on to the first single, the self-penned “Rain”. Angst and soul make this the most invested of this collection of songs, blues sentiment over an almost gospel delivery. David Jimenez duets on “Days Ago” which is certainly a foot shuffler with a country Chuck Berry vibe.

Then a genre and tempo change completely. Classic acoustic guitar (Matt Berger) and voice, “Solitude”  is a nice interlude that is just long enough to give a breath and then into an Anne Pebbles number, “Trouble, Heartache, Sadness,” a tasteful soul song that could have been an old Atlantic single with better production.

The up tempo “Heart On A String” is a great closer and although a bit formulaic, is the better for it. You get enough of the unexpected these days so being able to tap along and head nod in a positive way leaves the album with a smile.

Half and Half is an eclectic mix of both style and pace that is over way too quickly. There’s nothing to stop you from putting it on repeat though.

The Review: 8/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Rain
– We’re Still Friends
– Days Ago
– Heart On A String

The Big Hit

– Heart On A String