THE DEEP END – Christine Ohlman
& Rebel Montez
Christine Ohlman, not only a long-time vocalist on SNL, but a bluesy rockin’, ass-kickin’ acoustic and electric guitar “Beehive Queen”! She is also songwriter, storyteller, soul-bearing creature of musical genius! Her style and charisma drench this album in all that is within her soul and it is something to be cherished!
The Deep End, Christine’s sixth studio album which was released in 2009, is being celebrated on its tenth anniversary. The songs on this CD will cover every emotion, every genre, every heart that beats. Having never really touched on the sadness she has felt from the losses she has experienced, she decided it was time to expose some of those emotions. There are songs on this album that compel you to dance, to wonder, to think, to laugh, and even to cry - and that’s a good thing. The second song on this CD is the title track, “The Deep End”. It represents every aspect of love and life. It’s exciting, it’s fun, it’s scary, and sometimes it hurts.
“There Ain’t No Cure”, “Cry Baby Cry”, and “What’s the Matter With You Baby” are the only three covers on this album. These were very carefully selected to fit the overall message, structure, and landscape of The Deep End. I have to talk a little about “Cry Baby Cry” which also features Dion DiMucci. We have all experienced something in our lives that gives this song an open door to walk right in and expose emotions you may have thought were hidden. Christine’s voice is filled with passionate sensitivity allowing this song to be a beautiful yet heart wrenching reminder that there comes a time when there’s nothing left to do but cry.
Christine’s voice is exquisite in “Like Honey”. She says this gentle ballad is a “Muscle Shoals thing”. A sweet song about bittersweet love. She picks it right back up again with “Love Make You Do Stupid Things”. A rockin bluesy story that sounds all too familiar! “The Cradle Did Rock” was a song that was written at the first post-Katrina Mardi-gras, and was included on an album called “Get You a Healin’” to benefit the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, a charity Christine supports heavily. This is an incredible compilation of many blues greats and is available for download here.
https://neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/support-us/music/get-you-a-healin/
I can completely relate to “Girl Growing Up”. The line that says “baby dolls to woman’s blues” – now that pretty much covers it – from the sweet innocents of that little girl to growing into learning what real life is like. It can be an adventure!
This next song actually appears twice on the album. Be ready to lay all your “feels” on the table for this one. She bears a broken heart while trying to be optimistic but the reality of the pain overpowers that optimism. “The Gone of You” peels back the emotion in this reality based song of loss and the pain of missing someone so badly, you just can’t keep from crying – harkening back to why “Cry Baby Cry” was a perfect addition to this album.
“Everybody Got a Heartache” and “Walkin’ Down the Street Called Love” both have that soulful swagger that is equal parts rock, blues, and soul! If its flair, class, sass and style you’re looking for, you just found it in Christine’s album, THE DEEP END – which you can download here.
http://christineohlman.net/merchandise.html
It’s an awareness of all that is life – from the fun and happy times to the painful and sad times that we all experience at one time or another. I love it when an album speaks to me and this one did. The Deep End.
One added caveat about Christine - I mentioned that she once said about “Like Honey” that it’s a “Muscle Shoals thing”, well she is currently IN Muscle Shoals now, which she calls one of her second “musical homes”. She is there to headline the 2019 WC Handy Festival which runs from July 19 – July 28. Her other “musical homes” are New Orleans and New York. So there are many opportunities to see this lady in action! Check out one (or all!) her gigs..
www.christineohlman.net/calendar.html
Written by Brenda Lorenz
Beat Atlanta Online Magazine ... See more
