Play It as It Lays

This album goes good w/ her husbands release on the same label, Magic. Both conjure up images of an America gone retro.

I am a big Patti Scialfa fan, and her first album Rumble Doll is among my favorite CDs of all time. I found Play it As it Lays to be disappointing. All the music is heavily rooted in soul, and some people may like that, but I don't. I prefer the straightforward rock of Rumble Doll. None of the songs in my opinion have a memorable hook--they all kind of blend together.

The influence of small town america in the 50s and 60s is resonant throughout the recording and relates to the prefeminist era. It may easily carry succssive generations of women to the girl, child, that was. Storytelling and song, pertaining to the subject of love; liberation, overcoming the "institutional face" from the blues of that subjection through the revolution of rock, country and folk; rhythms and poetics. Repetitive refrains, other than filling the space between, can bring an alternate awareness to the listener via the symbolisms portrayed in the body of the song. For example, consider symbolism of carnival prizes, a jack knife and a rabbits foot, the tokens of a first love in adolesence, a working class experience of the winds of wild fortune. Is it fun, submission, dependency, neediness? Only the grown woman can say what it was in Cry.

The interjection of pieces of early 1960s radio hits encourages a sense of that era while the beautifully integrated musical composition indicates the presence of a maturity that is reflected by the woman standing before you with the stories.

Dark Ladder comes to us as a prayer for others who suffer stereotypical judgement, those of us who live without self-realization and growth and thus are confined in an unexplainable darkness.

Patti's voice and the accompanying vocals give this work the emotional strength it requires!
Play It As It Lays - Beautiful!

I highly recommend this album. The songs are mature and tell intelligent stories. "Looking For Elvis" is a grat to start with.

Great music! I was not familiar with Patti's music until I heard her perform on a late night talk show. I knew I wanted to hear more. The CD is blusey, a little country and it rocks! She sings from the soul and I find myself playing it over and over. Hope to hear more from Patti soon.