Beth Lee – Hardly Matters
This outing touches upon the female pop-rockers that inhabited the charts throughout the 60s. But instead of sounding retro 60s Beth Lee (vocals/guitar) wisely adds the edge of the new wavers who injected lots of life into the old recipes. There’s more Blondie (Debbie Harry) than Shangri-Las (Mary Weiss), more Bette Bright (Deaf School) than Lesley Gore & a touch of The Castaways (“Liar, Liar”) edginess.
But the expertise laid out here is so finely spread that Beth Lee manages to make it all sound fresh & new. Her 11 painful & hopeful, sassy & aggressive melodic & flexible tunes on Hardly Matters (Drops Oct 25/Independent/37:54).
Produced by Vicente Rodriguez (drums/guitar/percussion/keys/bgv) the songs on this album certainly subscribe to the summer hit stylizations of Robin Ward (“Wonderful Summer”) & Leslie Gore’s “That’s The Way Boys Are.” Beth pulls it off with the same vocal sweetness & power that has a tinge of a suave invective. “Call Me Anymore” is pop with a Gore caress on one cheek & slap on the other.
If Beth Lee’s voice was a little more New York City pungent like Patti Smith “Rough” would be such an excellent modern-day Shangri-La pop-harpoon. But as is, it has lots of bluster…it’s just sung a little too politely.
Despite all the New York references, Beth Lee is originally from Houston. Go figure. But there are lots of great blues singers in Europe too which is a contrast. Music is universal now. I like the way she interprets this kind of music. She’s a natural. Even with the balladry of “I’ve Tried,” she has a cool delivery & a sincere one. It’s a little more juvenile but has a Robin Ward near-tearful tone.
The majority of the original songs all have the necessary hooks to be hit fodder (definitely in the ’60s) but today it would still be a hit-and-miss. The charts are a fickle measurement. The music has the catchiness that is ear-candy & Beth’s songs are exhilarating.
I’d like to hear Beth cover an old Little Eva song – “Keep Your Hands Off My Baby” because I think she has the voice to resurrect that great forgotten rocker. But Beth being Beth surfaces on the excellent “Losing My Disguise.” This is bracingly smart music. A meticulous pop tune that’s well-arranged & wonderfully sung. When Beth needs to rock out with themes of anxiety & worn-out situations — she adds enough hope to clothe a naked heart.
Highlights – “Another Day,” “Blue Skies,” “Call Me Anymore,” “Rough,” “I’ve Tried,” “Hardly Matters,” “Losing My Disguise” & “Wall.”
Musicians – James DePrato (guitar/bass), Jessica Will (bass on “Wall”) & Jorge Castillo (guitar/bgv on “Wall”).
CD photo courtesy of Eryn Brooke. Portrait courtesy of Beth Lee’s Spotify. CD @ Bandcamp + https://www.bethlee.net/ & https://www.missjillpr.com/2381-2/
