Leanne Binder – I Got Something To Say
Independent
7 Tracks – 26 minutes
From a young age, Leanne Binder has been on a music driven journey. The Youngstown, Ohio native was accepted into the Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music at age 12. That led her to the Ohio State University music program where she was majoring in opera. But by age 18 she started having troubles with her singing voice. After a period of rest where she started focusing on her songwriting, she regained her vocal prowess after working with a vocal coach and changing her musical direction to rock and blues. She formed her own label and subsequently released two albums which gained national attention and led to a tour in the United Kingdom. Returning home. she traveled to Nashville to record her third album, On the Inside, which led to her performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
She returned to Nashville to record this latest album. Lee J. Turner, the keyboard player for Darius Rucker, produced the album and plays piano, Hammond B3 and synthesizer. Leanne is the lead vocalist and was the co-writer with Lee on all songs. Bassist Brian Allen and drummer Josh Day play on all tracks with guitars by Chris Condon, Jon Conley, and John Shaw.
She opens the album with “Little Bitta (How Does It make You Feel”. She tells him, “I would rather be your shot of whiskey than a pretty hand to hold”. ” I claim I am not the devil. I pray that I’m no angel. Can I borrow a kiss, I promise to give it back.” Her vocals promptly remind of the vocal power of Janis Joplin only with a less raspy sound. She says “Drinking Stars” is based on a friend’s recipe book of champagne cocktails. In a smoky slow blues, she purrs “I got a green light, white lines in my headlights, nothing but ghosts left in my past”. “Take a seat in the front row, I’ve got something you must know. You had little to give and I expected too much.” before she blurts out “I have learned my lesson” with the guitar powering alongside of her vocals.
On “Let It Pour” she explains “I go to church on Sunday. I ain’t never told a lie. I ain’t never had a bad day and I only think of you when it rains in LA.” John Shaw rips through some slide guitar as Leanne concludes “I ain’t sung no sad songs. You never made me cry”. “Broken Things” shifts to a gospel sound with Lee’s keyboards and backing vocals bringing a hymnal feel. Leeanne sings of “Shattered dreams and the beauty of broken things”. and notes “Aren’t we all carrying around these bits and pieces.”
Next, she declares “I Got Something to Say”. “I don’t know which side is heaven, but I’m looking for the light of day. I have been standing at the crossroads. I pray someone will show me the way.” “Tired of wasting all my time. Gonna leave all this pain behind.” She advises to “Do What You Love” in a rocking blues. I’ve gone to Memphis. Sing along with Elvis and midnight with the drop top down. The city in the rear view, a little something sitting next to you with no idea what we’re gonna do, but the night’s still young.” She concludes with an acoustic version of “Broken Things”. Lee’s piano leads her second take of the song.
Leanne demonstrates the power of Janis Joplin in her vocals and the stylings of Bonnie Raitt in her presentation. But make no mistake, Leeanne is delivering a new voice of the blues that is uniquely her own. Her band superbly supports her at every turn. I am not familiar with her previous releases, but this one makes me want to find them and look forward to her next release.
