ANA POPOVIC

Unconditional

2011-09-21

Ana Popovic is the total package: guitar, voice, looks. She loves her Fender. Popovic is from Serbia, Yugoslavia where she grew up listening to dad’s jam sessions and longing to learn blues guitar. She founded her first band at age 19 and began opening shows for Junior Wells. Unconditional is her fifth studio album. Sonny Landreth has been her musical inspiration since her Belgrade days and he contributes on track 5. It is interesting that tracks 6 & 9 were written with Ana’s husband Mark van Meurs—songs that ooze with sensual lyrics you can visualize. Hmmm. In “Fearless Blues” she appears to be trying to find her voice; it is a bluesy big sound like Tommy Castro. “Count Me In” features Jason Ricci who rips on harmonica! It is unrelenting; screaming guitar licks—the song cooks! The title track Unconditional has a nice pace which showcases her vocal range. “Slideshow” instrumental is a pretty damn good tune with brilliant slide guitar prowess of Ana and Sonny Landreth interplay. It’s the best tune on the CD and highly recommended. “Work Song” again features a big blues sound of working the chain gang with bluesy organ and heavy bass lines. It’s the second best song on the album. “Summer Rain” contains sweet sexy lyrics with guitar solos that keep climbing higher and higher. “One Room Country Shack” is a slow-burn blues number: “I’m gonna find me some kind of good man, even if he’s dumb, deaf, crippled or blind” that’ll put a smile on your face. “Soulful Dress” will appeal to the ladies with pounding on the ivories! Unconditional shows Ana takes her time with guitar solos--she’s not trying to prove herself because she knows she’s got the talent. - Pam VandeKerkhoff

Quick Links:

• Artist website