Been Here and Gone
Thalia Zedek has charted a singular course through rock history virtually unnoticed by critics and listeners alike. Whereas each newNick Caverelease  has the critics feverishly reaching for the Vaseline, Zedek's band  through the '90s,Come, released a  string of classic albums that were almost universally ignored. Her work  in the '80s--with Dangerous Birds, Uzi, and later fronting Live Skull fared even worse.Been Here and Goneis Zedek's first solo  effort, and it delivers. Her vision of what is the blues is perfectly  presented on songs such as "Excommunications" and "Temporary Guest,"  but this is the blues likeLeonard Cohen(whom  Zedek covers here) andBob Dylanare the  blues--the feeling not the form. On "Strong," Zedek opens with "You're  going to hell / you're gonna be living with yourself." Strong stuff  indeed, but delivered in a tone more measured than maniacal and the  effect is sharper for it. Zedek doesn't go in for posturing, this is  the real deal and not for the weak of heart, yet those who make this  journey with her are greatly rewarded by the music. Without a doubt,Been Here and Goneis among the best albums released in 2001.--Mike Johnson