Can't Find No Heaven

Album Review

This new disc from Alice Stuart has an acoustic feel, though she makes good use of electric instruments. This stems from the selection of songs and the fact that she makes good use of acoustic instruments, bringing them to the front of the mix. She is rooted in the blues of Mississippi Fred McDowell, Furry Lewis, and Mance Lipscomb, and even her original songs keep that country blues feel. Stuart has been in the music business since the early '60s, sharing stages with the likes of Ramblin' Jack Elliot and Joan Baez, and then going on to become part of the Mothers of Invention with Frank Zappa. This disc is a culmination of years of integrating and assimilating the influences that she has gathered in her years of playing. She is very ably backed by a variety of solid musicians, such as Paul deLay on harmonica and Kevin Cook on drums. She has a good, solid voice well suited to her material and she is an excellent guitarist. She has a solid group of musicians playing with her who also show a good feel for the material, which is based in the country blues. The disc opens with a wonderful version of "Big Boss Man," and she then takes listeners on an interesting journey into her world of music. A well-played and thought-out disc.