Skintalk – Martha Redbone

As much as I know about Martha Redbone is that she’s an independent artist from New York, who is signed to Dome Records in the United Kingdom. She has some Blackfoot Indian in her as well as some African American. Her style is that of the Funk/Soul genre although she occasionally decides to throw some rockin’ electric guitars into the mix for good measure. She’s been compared to the likes of Macy Gray & Anastacia, but in my eyes she blows all of those mainstream divas away. On so many levels. At the time of writing, she’s released only two studio albums – “Home of the Brave” in 2001 and “Skintalk” in 2005. Check out my thoughts on the latter release.

Hard Livin’: So how can I describe the opening track to Martha Redbone’s second studio album? I’d probably say Funk/Rock…but it’s definitely more of a straight up funk sound from the ’70s that we’re hearing….there are some guitar riffs that occasionally decide to say their piece at the end of each chorus, and that’s cool with me too. Lyrically….I dunno I’m not even listening – except for the part where she says she’s glad to be alive. Oh well that’s good enough for me….as long as you’re givin’ me some full-on, genuine funk…..then I’m not complaining.

Talk About It: According to my purchase history in iTunes, I bought this album in April 2006, and….. naturally I wasn’t really paying attention to the lyrics until it sorta hit me one day as I was listening to it that Martha was actually singing about her struggle as a Native American Indian woman. She’s just talking about how her people could die at any moment in time – perhaps that some people still want to kill them & she’s just looking up in the sky & asking God why it’s going to happen. Musically it’s a very soulful type of song, which even features a few Sitars being played, perhaps to give it that real autentic sound. Well done……. and very brave too.

Stick Wit Me: All right…let’s get back to funkin’ it up some more. Basically all she’s saying in this track is that if a guy is looking for love of any kind then all he needs to do is stick with her & he’ll get that love from her. Okay maybe it’s not that deep this time round, but it’s still a cool track. Who’s denying that? Not me.

Medicine Man: Sounds like this is another personal one. Perhaps you need to have some Native American in you to fully understand what she’s singing about, because it doesn’t really register with me….not that that’s a bad thing. Actually it even sounds like she’s saying something in another language too at one point. Other than that it’s another funky one….and yet another brave one, because it closes with some Native American Indian chants. Can you imagine Justin Timberlake or some other pop artist doing something like that on one of their albums? Nah. Their balls are simply not big enough for that. Trust me.

Skin: Whoa! I was seriously not expecting to hear that plectrum slide up against that electric guitar & cause Martha’s band to just rock out like that….definitely not. No way. After that it’s onto some more funkin’ around for a brief minute before rockin’ out again in the chorus. It’s great stuff. So what is she singing about this time? Just that she’s proud to be alive….and oh yeah….that she’s proud to a black woman too. That’s all. In fairness, James Brown did the same kind of thing back in the day….but I still think it’s a very brave thing for an artist to be saying in this day & age.

Atlas: This one is a very old school soul song. It sounds like something straight out of the ’70s – in particular Stevie Wonder’s “Superwoman,” because it begins as a soul ballad & then halfway through it segues into a totally different song all together. Stevie Wonder did exactly the same thing when he recorded “Superwoman Where Were You When I Needed You” back in the day. It’s a very cool piece of work.

Future Street: Obviously one of Martha’s influences is Rufus & Chaka Khan. I can totally see this on one of the old albums from back in the day….it’d probably fit in the best on that self titled one with the huge tongue on the front sleeve. Only because to my ears it’s very similar to “Sweet Thing” or one of those kinds of ballads that they were doin’ way back when. It’s very classy stuff.

Children Of Love: This song is clearly a very spiritual & personal song for Martha to be singing, because right before it segues into yet another very Rufusized soul ballad, you can hear an American Indian man & a few other folks chanting. Sounds like Martha herself is actually one of those folks chanting in the background. The lyrics are somewhat sacred & spiritual as well. I don’t think too many radio DJs out there would basically have the nuts to play a song like this one on of their radio shows…..not unless they were on a non commercial station or they didn’t give a fuck about the masses or whatever the case may be. It can still be enjoyed in the privacy of your own home though.

Just Because: Okay, one more Rufus-inspired jam for the time being. The message here is pretty simple & straight forward. She’s just telling her man that she loves him….I guess you’ve got to throw in a smoochy love ballad into the mix every now & then don’t cha? If only just to even it out a little bit. Every soul artist does it. Every artist in general actually not just soul artists.

Mama: One of my favourite cuts on the album is a great little funk song with a rock attitude. It kicks off with a great bass solo & ends with an electric guitar solo, which, as soon as I hear it makes me think of Prince/Hendrix/Funkadelic. When I say attitude, I’m using the operative word too, because the “Mother” in this song is undoubtably full of anger & resentment. Whenever Martha tries to talk to her, she shoots back with lines like “Here’s your dinner stop foolin’ around! Sit down! I don’t wanna talk about that!!” And, of course, my own personal favourite: “Is your name Oprah?! Leave me alone! I don’t wanna talk about that!!” Classic. I sincerley hope that this song’s not about her mother though. ‘Cause that would certainly be a worry.

God Created Woman: No, this isn’t a cover of that Prince song off the “Symbol” record. Believe me it isn’t. Although it certainly does sound very similar to that song….I’m not gonna lie about that. While Prince’s song was all about how The Lord created man & woman on the day of creation, Martha’s song is just saying, “Yeah! I’m a woman!! Take a look at me and all of the things that I can be to the men in my life: a mother, a lover, a wife, and….actually I’m quite powerful.” Hmmmm….. interesting points! Although this is the case, I can’t help thinking that a lot of religious folks out there would probably have a big problem with her saying: “Might come from a rib, but that’s only a story.” I’m not too worried about that anyway cause it’s such a great cut & that’s all that matters.

Merry Go Round: While I was writing this review I got this song mixed up with “Atlas.” I was pretty sure that there was a song on this album that started off somewhat funky before seguing into an almost Gospel sounding song. I thought “Atlas” was the song in question, but it’s actually this one. So in that respect it would be influenced once again by the soulful sounds of the ’70s….it’s still a pretty decent cut.

U B U: This song may be a personal song for Martha & perhaps somebody else out there too, but for me it doesn’t do much…piano based songs usually bore me shitless for lack of better words. Okay let’s move on.

From Now On: One more funkified track for the road. It’s a great closer for the album, although it leaves you wanting more to some degree. On her last record she included a hidden track. On this one…no such luck. Oh well.

Verdict: In a way it wouldn’t really be fair for me to compare this album to her first one, because it was actually the first album of Martha’s that I’d ever heard. It can be said though, that as soon as I bought it I just couldn’t stop playing it for months on end….that alone should tell you how great this disc well & truly is. If you love your old school funk/soul definitely do not look beyond this album. Head on over to CDBaby.com or iTunes & make that purchase.