Honey for the Biscuit
is
Tasha Taylor
's third album but it plays a bit like a statement of purpose: a confident, colorful claim to the Southern soul throne left vacated by her father,
Johnnie Taylor
. Soul may be
Taylor
's birthright but she's determined to modernize the classic sound by emphasizing elements of funk, blues, and even pop on various tracks. Sometimes, she receives an assist from famous friends:
Samantha Fish
duets on the funky soul-blues workout "Leave That Dog Alone,"
Keb' Mo'
drops by for "Family Tree,"
Tommy Castro
sings on "Same Old Thing," and
Robert Randolph
plays on the spare, lively "Little Miss Suzie." The latter is ample evidence of
's gifts as a songwriter: she can sharpen a hook and construct a story, turning in tunes that exist within the '60s Southern soul tradition but aren't afraid to play with the form a bit. This agility makes
doubly satisfying: it not only belongs to a long, proud lineage but looks forward to the future. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine