Samantha Fish Review: Belle of the West

Kansas City is sharing another rising star in the world of blues, her name is Samantha Fish. Her new album, Belle of the West, finds the young guitarist/vocalist blending hip guitar work with engaging lyrics all done with intense passion and authority. Her music is firmly in the southern blues soundscape, but has influences of rock and western country and may even flirt with Americana at times. Belle of the West is Fish’s sixth full-length release since debuting in 2009. Fish brings us eleven songs that are full of her bluesy vocals, guitar skills, imaginative covers and excellent songwriting. Fish’s powerhouse vocals and guitar unfolds her mostly acoustic set of tunes with a healthy dose of slide guitar and stirring vocal harmonies. The producer’s chair contains Luther Dickinson and the record was made at his Zebra Ranch studios in the North Hills of Mississippi with local musicians such as: Lillie Mae, Jimbo Mathus, Lightnin’ Malcolm and Amy LaVere. Brilliant blues singing and songs, and that’s the short of it!