Slipstream, Bonnie Raitt

 (65 customer reviews)

What's going on here? Veteran roots artists have been releasing some of the best music of their careers- B.B. King, Gregg Allman, Dr, John and now Bonnie Raitt have all recorded five star works within the last year or two. Aside from the obvious talents of these artists, there seems to be a common thread at work here: sympathetic producers.

Both B.B. and Gregg worked with veteran T-Bone Burnett to create their strongest studio efforts in years, while the good Doctor was produced by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach for one of the most unusual (and satisfying) recordings in his canon. On "Slipstream", Bonnie is produced by alt-country artist Joe Henry. He earned serious blues cred with Solomon Burke's "Don't Give Up On Me" and Betty Lavette's "I've Got My Own Hell to Raise", among many others.

Bonnie and Henry recorded ten songs in his home studio with an excellent group of acoustic musicians: guitarist Greg Leisz and pianist Patrick Warren are joined by the rhythm...Read more

First of all, MY GAL BONNIE IS BACK!!! Secondly, to classify this album under "Pop" is an abomination of the highest order. Sure, there are a few cuts, like Bonnie's fine cover of Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down the Line" that can be marginally called "Pop", if one is callous enough to do so. But LISTEN to this disc-the whole album-and everyone will find some of the very best blues from one of our very best blues performers. It is soulful and nuanced, at times elegant and then raucous. This is Bonnie at her most awesome and the woman only gets better with age! She has an amazing band backing her up and I can hardly wait to see Bonnie with Miss Mavis Staples on tour! GO BONNIE GO!

"Slipstream" is first and foremost the story of an artist returning to her realm after a long dry spell, rediscovering her fountain of inspiration and acquiring the drive to once again practice her craft. Since that artist happens to be Bonnie Raitt, one of America's most iconic and important musicians, it comes as no surprise that it is an enlightening, hearty listen with a feels-like-home comfortability.

The seven-year gap between "Slipstream" and 2005's terrific "Souls Alike" is the longest Raitt has taken between studio efforts, understandable since her life in the interim has been fraught with loss - of parents, of brother, of best friend. While that certainly can be read as informing her soul-searching take on Bob Dylan's masterpiece "Standing in the Doorway" and the aching piano/vocal "God Only Knows," the album only occasionally dips its toe into the deep end of introspection. In fact, the only tune Raitt co-writes here is the rambunctious, sing-songy "Down to...Read more