Album Review – Tami Neilson’s “CHICKABOOM!”
If word comes down that Tami Neilson is making her way to your town, pitch the tent, prop up the podium, assemble the pews, pass out handbills and burn up the telephones lines to put everyone on alert that the new queen of rockabilly herself is coming to testify and save souls with her earth-shattering shouts and dulcet coos that certify to anyone who has ever born witness to her in the flesh that she has no peer on this planet or any other when it comes to musical performance.
This is not a drill. No payola has been exchanged for the sharing of these opinions. Tami Neilson is one of the greatest performers breathing at the moment, and make no mistake, a consensus prevails upon this point when surrounded by people who’ve actually been lucky enough to behold her power in the flesh.
This Canadian-born performer who got her start in a family band opening for the likes of Tanya Tucker and Johnny Cash—and later moved to New Zealand to pursue a love interest—has been slowly bubbling under the surface of country, roots, and Americana for some years now, struggling to find the traction that is equal to her talent due to her limited name recognition and touring capability north of the equator.
But this secret has proven to be harder and harder to keep over time, and though there still remains an incredible gulf between the people who know of Tami Neilson and those who should, Tami is starting to enjoy some of the buzz she’s deserved for some years now. It’s within this swelling of interest that she releases her new album called CHICKABOOM!—a spirited and energetic mix of rockabilly, old school R&B soul, and classic country that has something for everyone with good taste, while presenting numerous new launching pads for Neilson’s voice to blow back the hair of spellbound crowds for years to come.
Very much forged from the dual life Tami Neilson leads as both a dutiful and very busy housewife and mother, and a big bopping rockabilly goddess with big hair and a bigger voice, both these occupations are given a spotlight in these 10 tracks. “Queenie, Queenie” finds Neilson juggling all her daily tasks, having to work harder than most, because as he says, “Mama got to hustle, do another show, ’cause they won’t play a lady-o on country radio.”
Now that Neilson’s musical pursuits have gone from a fledgling side hustle to a full blown cross continent career—which she talks about ironically in the Nashville-tanning “Ten Tonne Truck”—her songs reflect these additional challenges, though everything is presented in a fun and playful manner. For those searching for the country heart of her sound, which recently landed her 2015 record Dynamite! on Saving Country Music’s Greatest Albums of the Decade list, check out the Patsy Cline-inspired “Any Fool With a Heart” or the more upbeat “Tell Me That You Love Me.” For those of Gospel patrons, Tami pays tribute to arguably the greatest singer from the Staple stable in “Sister Mavis.”
The challenge with an artist who is so incredible live like Tami Nelson is how to capture that magic in the often sterile environment of the studio. Producer and fellow standout New Zealand performer Delaney Davidson, along with Neilson’s brother and guitar player Jay Neilson do a great job bringing Tami’s vision to life. But the truth is no matter the effort, any recording will feel like the home version of the real thing. Watching Tami perform her new song “You Were Mine” live is like a religious experience, but you only get glimmers of that with the recorded version. Similar to listening to other incredible live performers, whether it’s someone such as Billy Strings, or classic performers with big voices like Elvis or Frank Sinatra, with Neilson’s voice being what it is, you almost have to witness it yourself to believe what you’re hearing.
Nonetheless, CHICKABOOM! makes quick work and separates itself from the peloton of mild “Americana” with it’s energy and infectiousness, along with the messages that working moms and the men that love them can most certainly relate to. Tami Neilson has been here for a long time, but hopefully CHICKABOOM! is the moment she arrives.
8/10
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February 15, 2020 @ 9:16 am
That voice….
February 15, 2020 @ 9:18 am
What a voice.. and just a fun record.
February 15, 2020 @ 9:43 am
She’s awesome!
February 15, 2020 @ 9:57 am
Go on with your bad self Tami!
Tear. It. Up.
Love her!
February 15, 2020 @ 10:43 am
damn ….I think i just heard a SONG ……remember SONGS ??
its a music thing …it has a melody you can sing along to , words that not only make sense but that you can ACTUALLY HEAR without googling them or hiring a translator .
….and damn ..i think i just heard an ACTUAL SINGER . …remember SINGERS ??? they were very popular before technology duped us into believing that any human with a mouth could ‘sing’ a song . apparently there are still quite a few in the wild but there’s concern that with the catastrophic musical climate change they could become extinct . in fact there are many people in the business who have yet to hear one and may never get the chance . sad .
tami’s terrific
February 15, 2020 @ 11:04 am
I’m afraid you must have stopped listening to music if you ceased hearing songs and singers. They’re everywhere, especially these days.
February 15, 2020 @ 11:32 am
I get what Albert is saying. He’s being hyperbolic for emphasis.
February 17, 2020 @ 10:25 am
I “get” what he’s saying, too, but it doesn’t make sense because there’s more now than ever.
February 21, 2020 @ 5:45 am
Seldom on the radio.
February 16, 2020 @ 8:36 pm
lotta people sign …I sing …you sing ….kids sing . but to hear someone SING ….on pitch , serving the lyric, using vocal technique including dynamics , proper enunciation , breathing ,emotional nuance …..this is rare to hear in these times . tami pays attention to all of those things in a way that comparatively few do .
SINGING is like SONGWRITING … calling or marketing yourself as either doesn’t make you one anymore than growing a tomatoe plant makes you a farmer .
and yes…I was using hyberbole for emphasis .
February 15, 2020 @ 11:53 am
My highlights: the voice of Tami Neilson, “Any Fool With A Heart” & “Sleep”.
Must listen to the other tracks a couple of more times…
New Stuff:
Luke Mills – “Hold My Heart” – Single/Track – Released
Wynonna – “Ramble On Rose” – Single/Track – Released
Ingrid Andress – “Life Of The Party” – Single/Track – Released
Tommi Jo Harris – “Wildflower” – Single/Track – Released (Folk)
Beth Noble – “Out Of The Blue” – Single/Track – Released (Texas)
Missy Armstrong – “My Remedy” – Single/Track – Released (Bluegrass)
Chalkie White – “Wish She Was You” – Single/Track – Released (Australia)
Last Chance Band – “Wanted Man – Single/Track – Released (Country-Rock)
Sundown Smile Club – “I’m On Fire” & “Butterflies” – Singles/Tracks – Released
TexWestus – “Houston, You’ve Got A Problem” – Single/Track – Released (Texas)
The Teague Brothers Band – “Rainbow Bridge” – Single/Track – Released (Texas)
Triston Marez – “Until I Found You” (Piano Version) – Single/Track – Released (Texas)
Clifton Jansky – “Like Coffee Needs A Cup” – Single/Track – Released (Traditional/Christian)
Kim Richey – Keep Me – EP (3 Tracks) – Released (02/11)
Hirttämättömät – Elämä On Blues – EP (7 Tracks) – Released (02/11)
Blake Asa – Someone To Call Home – EP (4 Tracks) – Released (02/02)
Cross Rags & Young – Family Name – EP (4 Tracks) – Released (01/30)
Caroline Marquard – Train Of Thought – EP (3 Tracks) – Released (02/13)
Stephanie Quayle – The Montana Sessions – EP (6 Tracks) – Released (02/13)
Tenille Townes – Road To The Lemonade Stand – EP (6 Tracks) – Released (02/06)
El Mule – El Mule – Album (12 Tracks) – Released (02/11)
Camilla Amundsen – Kom Hjem – Album (11 Tracks) – Released (02/13)
Eamonn Patrick Walsh – My Time – Album (10 Tracks) – Released (02/04)
Tyller Gummersall – Heartbreak College – Album (12 Tracks) – Released (02/13)
Whiskey Foxtrot – Hard Lines & Headlights – Album (13 Tracks) – Released (01/31)
Tracy McNeil & The Goodlife – You Be The Lightning – Album (02/14) – Released (02/13)
February 15, 2020 @ 5:38 pm
Thanks for the first two paragraphs. Makes me feel like crap for missing her when she came to a small town near by.
February 15, 2020 @ 6:04 pm
My problem with Tami Neilson is that she’s basically a straight-up tribute act. Listening to her stuff, it’s like, here’s a song that’s exactly like a Patsy Cline song, here’s one that sounds exactly like a 60s Bond movie theme song, etc. She doesn’t add anything to that musical idiom but only faithfully and skillfully reproduces it. After a couple of songs, I lose interest.
February 15, 2020 @ 8:49 pm
I understand what you’re saying, but you can basically say that about any old school throwback act, and I’m not sure Tami is exceptional in that. I think she composes songs that fit her voice well, and they happen to be in a classic style.
February 16, 2020 @ 4:38 am
Dear Tami,
It was never my intention to dismiss your hard work and now I wish I hadn’t made that comment (on the other hand, Trigger’s site is one of the rare places where you get to criticize an artist and then in turn may get slammed not by fans, but by that artist herself, so I guess looking at it from that side I feel privileged to have my ears boxed by you 🙂 ) You are partly right when you say your music just isn’t up my alley: I think it’s fair to say your esthetic is primarily rockabilly, and that’s really not my suite (I do love Patsy Cline though). I appreciate the fire in your response – the passion with which you do what you do is, as you sing, “oh so clear to any fool with a heart”. And who knows, maybe if someday I get to see you live (nor very likely because of where I live, but hey, you never know), I’ll be converted like others. Then I’ll come back here to grovel some more 😉 In the meantime, I apologize from the bottom of my heart for having offended you (I repeat, I would have held my peace if I had thought that would happen) and I wish you all the success that Trigger and others more musically knowledgeable than me think you deserve.
Sincerely,
Jake
February 16, 2020 @ 11:37 am
My favorite track on this record is 16 Miles of Chain. It rocks. Her voice is stunning.On the whole the album is a not so subtle tribute to the Sun Rockabilly and blues sound. Lots of guitar references to Luther Perkins can be found. The blues number You were mine is also one of the highlights. Tami is also influenced by Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Screamin Jay Hawkins, both those influences can be heard on this track. Overall it’s a very stripped down record for Tami but a good one.
February 16, 2020 @ 12:38 pm
What I was trying to say (and now regret having said it in a way that sounds disparaging of Tami and her work) is that I wish she would use her incredible voice and talent on songs which, while drawing inspiration from the great artists of that era, were more embedded in the present. But of course she’s gotta follow her muse. Here’s to hoping that muse leads her in some such direction in the future, maybe only as a one-off experiment.
February 16, 2020 @ 1:46 pm
I get what your saying Euro, but believe it or not Tami is a major star in New Zealand. She won a silver screen award which is their equivalent of Grammys. She has a fanbase and sells out concerts all over the place. She’s made it. The US market is one she hasn’t really tried to conquer. You are right that she is very retro but that’s where her heart is at. Believe it or not, there’s a market for retro sounding artists. And amazingly she’s found a lot of success with it. But if her old school sound doesn’t work for you, it’s ok. I get that retro artists are often a love or hate thing for people.
I recently wrote a cover article on her for a magazine. I researched her pretty heavily prior to writing it, and what particularly impressed me is that she does everything 100% on her own terms, zero compromise on her vision. She’s the opposite of sellout and incredibly, it’s working. Proof that genuine talent, not artificed hype will eventually be recognized. We are lucky to hear a voice as great as hers.
February 16, 2020 @ 2:11 pm
Thanks for supplying the context that, indeed, I’m not familiar with beyond what Trigger mentioned in his texts on her, as well as for the info on what kind of an artist she is – now I feel even worse for having been disparaging. And yeah, I guess I’m just selfishly wishing she’d do something that’s more up my alley 🙂
February 18, 2020 @ 9:53 pm
We are very proud of her, here in New Zealand.
February 21, 2020 @ 5:53 am
She’s a world treasure. Fantastic songs and videos. Next time the Grammies are on she should be the sole entertainment.