Award-winning Aussie singer and bassist Anni Piper recently emerged from the recording studio with another new album. Titled More Guitars Than Friends, her most recent release contains ten tracks. It's the first disc to be released on her Sugar Daddy Records imprint. It contains material that Piper worked her following her move to the US.
On More Guitars Than Friends, Piper leads the way with her bass and lead vocals. She is backed by a number of other artists including Dave Kury (guitar and backing vocals), Frank Hetzler (drums, percussion and backing vocals), Hall and Oates veteran Charlie de Chant (saxophone), Sam Zambito (trumpet), Mike Franklin (keyboard and backing vocals) and Jabba Ehley (“shotgun”). The album opens on “Wonder Woman”.
“Wonder Woman” is a nice, humorous opening to this audio offering. It contains elements of blues and rock. It was co-written with Kury and Hetzler.
The second serving of Piper here is “Just A Little Bit”. This is a cover of a blues standard first recorded by Rosco Gordon. She makes it her own of course and it fits right in with the other material here.
“Buckle Bunny” is one of the best cuts here. Co-written with Kuty, it should be especially fun to anyone who really knows about the rodeo. Your rockin’ reviewer is gonna behave here but let’s just say it makes yours truly want to dig out his chaps. “Yee haw” indeed!
The titular “More Guitars Than Friends”, co-written with Kury and Hetzler, just gets you. Maybe your rascally reviewer doesn’t get out enough but while this is a sincere and sad song Piper somehow makes it sultry as well. If this sad situation still exists, your randy writer suggests a new traveling companion for Piper . . . perhaps a music journalist? Stock the tour bus fridge with Amp and flavored vodka and get ready to write a happier follow-up song. (Yeah, yeah . . .”you wish”) . . .(sigh).
Kury, Hetzler and de Chant help Piper out in composing the next number named “Paper Bag”. Piper picks things up here again in a song that is wonderfully not PC. Then again, when a lady is upset it might still be OK to take personal shots. Either way, who cares? It’s fun and it rocks.
“Cold Pizza And Warm Beer” is another cover. It’s a song by Saffire--The Uppity Blues Women. While your rockin’ reviewer doesn’t eat cold pizza for any woman, this one probably works really well in a live setting.
“Shotgun Wedding”, the next number, is the result of another tuneful team-up with Kury and Hetzler. It has a little island sound to it somehow. It’s a nice change of pace and reflects Piper’s present Florida locale.
Piper proves once more she can take a cover and own it. “I’m Lost Without You” is actually a tune by Memphis Slim. It’s no doubt another fan favorite that works well to showcase the band live.
Also included here is “Eugene”. Kury and Hetzler again assist as Piper reveals her love of Chuck Berry. It’s chock full of old school rock.
The closing cut is “Blackberry Brandy”. This is a cut that has a bit of Nashville to it. Indeed, in a press release Piper confirmed that the “song was written in a hotel room in Tennessee.” She concludes: “You can’t fake that sort of melancholy.”
Her high-energy bass and sexy vocal stylings mark her latest release as yet another effort worthy of attention. So check out Anni Piper’s More Guitars Than Friends. In “Just A Little Bit” you too might agree she’s the Aussie “Wonder Woman” of the blues. |