Love Comin Down
For years, the main thing guitarist and vocalist Sue Foley has had going for her is potential, based on the strength of her debut,Young Girl Blues. While subsequent albums were good, they were marred by an inconsistency of tone. But at long last, Foley has lived up to the potential promised in her debut withLove Comin' Down. Judging from the laid-back rhythm of "Two Trains" and the slow and easy "Empty Cup," Foley's relaxed a lot, and that's just what was needed. This album is perfect summer listening; the title track sways and winds like a slow-moving river, with Joe Cabral's saxophone lending just the right touch. Foley's guitar and vocal skills have improved considerably. For the former, check out the instrumental "Mediterranean Breakfast." As for the latter, her vocal range is limited, but she uses it all, and her voice has acquired new expressiveness and depth. The original songs, which make up most of the album, are uniformly strong, but special mention must be made of Foley's version of "Same Thing," which is so smooth and sensual, it'll raise goosebumps. Foley has also mastered the art of mixing the bitter with the sweet, that quality so essential to good blues music.Love Comin' Downis a class act all around.--Genevieve Williams