Patti Scialfa’s solo career has always seemed a tad star-crossed. Her 1993 solo debut Rumble Doll , despite an all-star team of supporting players, felt like it lacked something in the confidence department. Her sophomore disc 23rd Street Lullaby didn’t come out until 11 years later, years during which she spent much of her time continuing to sing backup for husband Bruce Springsteen, not to mention parenting their three growing kids. And now her third disc comes out just as hubby issues a heralded new album and takes the whole E Street Band out on tour to support it.
Sigh.
But don’t cry for Ms. Patti — life has still been pretty decent to her, and now she’s topped it off by releasing what is quite simply the best album of her career.
Scialfa and her man share a love of classic 60s soul, and on Play It As It Lays, Patti lets her inner Aretha take full flower. What’s surprising is that she does so on a set of deeply introspective and serious-minded songs — and that this stylistic mash-up succeeds beyond all expectations.
That said, “Looking For Elvis” is a somewhat odd opener — more Americana-flavored than just about anything on the album, and employing the familiar metaphor of Elvis-as-symbol of inspiration lost and waiting to be rediscovered. Still, it’s nicely done and leads right into a string of terrific r&b-flavored numbers.
“Like Any Woman Would” is confessional songwriting at its best, a soul-baring lyric set to a soulful beat with chorused female background vocals that simply fuel the fire in Scialfa’s raw words. “Town Called Heartbreak,” “Play Around” and “Rainy Day Man” continue in this vein, a series of songs full of self-doubt and insecurity — and resilience — that are rich with strong images and turns of phrase. “Rainy Day Man” in particular rides a slinky backbeat right out of a Sam Cooke number as Lisa Lowell and Soozie Tyrell chant “sugar sugar sugar baby” in the background like faux Supremes. How sweet it is.
There’s plenty more good stuff — “Bad For You” and “Run Run Run” both feature irresistable singalong choruses — but the lyrical highlight of the second half is the title track, a simple, quiet, hymn-like tune that sums up every bit of heartbreak and redemption chronicled in the tunes that have led up to it. It’s among the simplest, prettiest and most nakedly honest songs Scialfa has ever written, and taken in context, it’s a knockout.
This disc features a cast of supporting players — the so-called Whack Brothers Rhythm Section — that would be the envy of any singer: Clifford Carter (keys), Steve Jordan (drums and production), Nils Lofgren (guitars), Willie Weeks (bass) and Mr. Scialfa himself (guitars, organ and harmonica). It would be hard to go wrong with that group behind you — and Scialfa never does.
Whatever the sales numbers say, the truth of the matter is this: Play It As It Lays is a terrific album, and anyone who’s missing out on it is missing out indeed.
