I had tentatively given Tina Schlieske's Slow Burn CD a Big Tickle rating based on her earlier EP release. Since then I have received my copy of Slow Burn.  The last several days  I've been giving the songs a continuous listen, and I've nearly worn out my MP3 player.

Now that I've had a good listen to this CD, I have to upgrade my rating. I'm now giving Tina Schlieske's Slow Burn CD my highest rating of Stop! I can't breathe! All the songs on this CD are gems. ``Come On In'' continues to be my personal favorite; however, I can't resist the temptation to press the ``repeat'' button whenever ``Slow Down'' and ``For the World to See'' finish playing.

If Janis Joplin, Susan Tedeschi, or Ted Hawkins are in your playlist, then you will probably love Tina!
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No, not you, faithful readers. I'm talking about the tone-deaf, quality-proof major-label types who have failed to line up like hungry dogs begging for the chance to sign Tina Schlieske to the fat contract she clearly deserves. You think some overrated third-tier indie singer-songwriter gets the likes of Benmont Tench and Rami Jaffee and Greg Leisz and DJ Bonebrake and Garrison Starr and Shayne Fontayne to play on her album? You think vocal and musical talent that deserves to be overlooked gets invited to be the frontwoman for Double Trouble (as in, Stevie Ray Vaughan and…)? You think FEMA did a pretty good job responding to Hurricane Katrina?

Whatever.

I don't know much, but I know quality when I hear it. Tina Schlieske is the kind of talent you don't even hesitate to compare with people like Bonnie Raitt, because she is so clearly in that class -- a smart, sensitive, earthy singer-songwriter with a superb voice and a musical reach that blurs the lines between country, rock, blues and gospel with giddy sureness.

You can hear it from the very first verse of "Come On In," a joyous blast of sultry country-blues, full of tangy lines like "Come on in, come on in / There's room in my confession for one more sin," embellished with gospel-tinged background vocals and honky-tonk sax.

It's a long, sweet ride through the rest of this disc, full of lilting country-rock numbers ("Adeline," "Honey Baby Sweetie," "Slow Down") interspersed with roadhouse blues-rock ("Baby Blue"), smoldering mid-tempo cuts ("Hardly Tell"), and a trio of rapturous ballads ("Love Everlasting," "Never Knew Love," "For The World To See"). The title track ("Scars Of A Slow Burn") is an especially effective and affecting country-blues, colored with gentle Hammond and soaring steel.

Not surprisingly given the pedigree of its supporting cast, Slow Burn is full of sharp arrangements and lively performances. The gospel-chorus vocal arrangements on several tracks here are an especially nice touch, adding rich seasoning to the rootsy musical base. The proceedings close on a positive note with the upbeat affirmation of the steady-burning gospel-blues "Everyday" ("You've got to take a look up ahead / Don't you know that sun is just waiting to shine").

Beyond Schlieske's remarkable musical range, the most notable thing about this album is the simple fact that she sings every word like she means it -- no, more than that -- like she's living it. Slow Burn shouts class and artistry and heart and soul and range and intelligence -- which means you'll probably never find it in the top 40 rack, but you can surely pick up a copy for your own enjoyment. Just don't forget to laugh at the A&R guys while you listen. 

RATING: A-
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Tina Schlieske, vocalist of the formerly remembered Sire Records act Tina & The B-Sides, has returned to set the music world on fire with Slow Burn. The call to rock is sounded early in track number one with the sax bellow of the blue-eyed R&B rocker ‘Come on In’. Making full use of vocal range that runs from angelic to resolute, Schlieske digs deep to draw the listener squarely into the eye of her emotional storm.

The passion (and there’s plenty of it) in the lyrics on each of the 13 (12 plus bonus track) is underscored well by the arrangements. The use of horns on harder hitting tracks such as ‘Baby Blue’ and the previously mentioned album opener help shake the listener from the inside out. On the other end of the spectrum is the steel guitar whisper and soulful organ bed that Schlieske lays her broken heart upon in ‘Love Everlasting’.

The most gripping singing performance on the disc is ‘Never Knew Love’. A blues ballad with mainly acoustic guitar accompaniment, Schlieske’s delivery is further powered by the kind of edgy rasp that comes with waiting until your chords are raw from a long recording session before laying down the vocal track.

Slow Burn is an extraordinary disc from an artist that you just have to hear. Get the 411 on Tina at tinaschlieske.com
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