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Tamika Jones has developed quite a following in the Washington, D.C. area, which is a hotbed for indie soul artists. She has a reputation for putting on excellent live shows, and many in the DC area wouldn't be surprised if Jones starts getting some national attention. The EP Tamika ‘Love' Jones will give a broader audience an idea of what listeners in the nation's capital hear and like.
Tamika Jones has developed quite a following in the Washington, D.C. area, which is a hotbed for indie soul artists. She has a reputation for putting on excellent live shows, and many in the DC area wouldn't be surprised if Jones starts getting some national attention. The EP Tamika ‘Love' Jones will give a broader audience an idea of what listeners in the nation's capital hear and like.
Love is the topic Jones addresses on this CD's seven tracks. Most deal with love in the romantic and erotic sense, and one track tells listeners that love of self is the only way to empowerment. Jones' realism is a strong suit. On the song "Dumb Love" she assumes the persona of a woman desperately trying to hold on to a man who is physically and emotionally absent. The lyrics show how loneliness affects decision-making. Jones as the narrator/singer knows where the desire to fulfill her short term needs will lead. "I know better than this/but all I want right is a little kiss." It's the kind of song that elicits groans and knowing nods from women (and more than a few men). However music captures emotions that exist at a point and time - even if acknowledging those emotions makes the listener (and perhaps the singer) uncomfortable.
"Dumb Love" and the ensuing song "Damn, Damn, Damn" both allow the listener to appreciate Jones' storytelling prowess. "Damn, Damn, Damn," a title that will draw chuckles from "Good Times" fans tells the story of a woman who always seems to arrives at the terminal just as the love train is closing the doors and pulling away from the station. The anthem, "Make It Mine" is a passionate plea by Jones for people to take personal control of their lives. However, Jones is at her best when she is expressing the angst and insecurity that often comes with that thing called love. That comes through on the song "Sunshine," where Jones wrestles with personal insecurities that bring her to the brink of ruining a good relationship.
It's rare these days for artists to create work that lays their hopes, fears and weaknesses open for the world to see. Jones has done that with Tamika ‘Love' Jones. The results are sure to have some people asking why she went ‘there,' but the results are also absolutely compelling. Recommended.
By Howard Dukes