The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster

Ruthie Foster's the newest voice in old-school soul. Her fifth album is a remarkable flashback to the genre's '60s and '70s heyday, framing her warm butter-and-cayenne-pepper singing with organ, electric piano, shimmering guitar textures, and strong backbeats. That sound, along with her strength as a song interpreter--rippling with beauty on Lucinda Williams's "Fruits of My Labor," stunningly emotional on Son House's cautionary Delta spiritual "People Grinnin' in Your Face"--and her fine-tuned social politics, makes Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, and Nina Simone reasonable artistic references. For the 42-year-old Texan, this historic approach is new. Until now she's been an obscure acoustic-guitar-wielding singer-songwriter. And, indeed, the evocative lyricism of her own tunes "Harder Than the Fall," "Heal Yourself," and "Beaver Creek Blues" is clearly the work of an experienced craftsperson. But the performances on this elegant album, made under the tutelage of imaginative and empathetic Austin-based producer Malcolm Welbourne, live up to its boastful title, and seem destined to bring Foster the larger audience she deserves. --Ted Drozdowski more

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Smarter Choice Phenomenal Ruthie Foster Superlatives are rare in album titles, and for good reason: unless you're a living legend or a legend-in-the-making...	Buy.com 23,982 reviews *smarter certified	$10.99 Coupon 1 coupon available Code: Detail: Take $5 OFF the purchase of $100 or more at Buy.com Expires:Nov-30-2009 Restriction:New Customers Only. Coupons are not valid on Marketplace items	See it
The Phenomenal Track Listing: 1. 'Cuz I'm Here, 2. Heal Yourself, 3. Fruits of My Labor, 4. People Grinnin' in Your Face, 5. Up...	Best Buy 14,835 reviews *smarter certified	$13.99	See it
The Phenomenal (CD)	Tower.com 96 reviews	$11.18 Coupon 1 coupon available Code: Detail: FREE standard delivery when you purchase over $25.00 at Tower.com. Expires:Dec-31-2010 Restriction:Unknow	See it

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Recent Reviews

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Apr-09-2008; Blues + Soul = Phenomenal; I stopped listening to any kind of radio a few years ago, so my exposure to new artists (to me) is via the internet.I was on YouTube watching clips of Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Up Above My Head) and saw a clip of Ruthie Foster doing a...; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Nov-12-2007; Sunday best; a wonderful collection of songs. The arrangements and recordings are crisp beautiful! I look forward to buying another Ruthie Foster CD and hopefully catching her in concert!; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Nov-03-2007; Better than I'd Hoped; I ordered this CD based on a review I read in The Epoch Times and I was delighted to find it was even better than I had hoped. Ruthie's depth of feeling, her wise understanding of the world she lives in, and her voice itself are so...; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Oct-30-2007; The Title Doesn't Lie; Five long years after Foster arrived with "Runaway Soul," a fine blues/soul disc that netted an appearance on Austin City Limits, she returns with an homage to Sixties soul and blues. On the first two offerings, ""Cuz I'm Here" and "Heal...; read full review | report as inappropriate

Selected Reviews

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Apr-09-2008; Blues + Soul = Phenomenal; I stopped listening to any kind of radio a few years ago, so my exposure to new artists (to me) is via the internet.I was on YouTube watching clips of Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Up Above My Head) and saw a clip of Ruthie Foster doing a...; read full review | report as inappropriate

3/5: From: Amazon; Posted: May-29-2007; Ruthie Foster; I have enjoyed most of the cuts on this cd, especially Phenomenal Woman. I would like to hear more material, however. I will listen to the other two cd's that you have listed. I like her voice and her phrasing is very good. It just...; read full review | report as inappropriate

2/5: From: Amazon; Posted: May-30-2007; The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster; Disappointing. Only cared for about 2 songs, which were the "preview" songs that prompted me to purchase the cd.; read full review | report as inappropriate