TAMI NEILSON – SASSAFRASS! Vinyl LP Cheap

She s back, the gloves are off and she is coming out swinging. Tami Neilson won t be staying New Zealand s secret for much longer. For the past decade, the Canadian-born, New Zealand-based singer songwriter has been the queen of her adopted homeland s country and roots music scenes. She has picked up a handful of Best Country Album awards at the New Zealand Music Awards and won the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll for excellence in songwriting. With her new album, SASSAFRASS!, Neilson takes a giant step forward. On this 11-track knock-out, she places a heavier emphasis on soul music without abandoning her country and rockabilly roots. Neilson conjures up a wonderfully retro style that sounds like it could be a lost gem from the late 50s or early 60s; however, beneath the classic veneer are frank, highly relevant lyrics. Sassafrass, a slang word for a sassy person who isn t afraid to speak her mind, serves as a perfect title for this album. The songs, Neilson divulges, reflect her developing a low tolerance for bullsh*t after years of encountering sexism in her life. They were also influenced by her being a mother of two young boys as well as by the death of her father, who led the family s band, the Neilsons, which was popular in Canada during the 90s. Neilson characterizes her new album as a mouthy lovechild of the current social climate and my own experiences as a woman, mother and daughter