Danielle Howle – Thank You Mark
On her last album, 2002’s Skorborealis, Danielle Howle unfurled a harder-edged sound while keeping intact the rootsy charm and quirky wit that’s gained her a devoted following. On Thank You Mark, the South Carolina native moves in an even more eclectic direction. Shifting deftly between chiming folk-pop, back-porch balladry and Stax-influenced soul, Howle exudes a laid-back confidence that underscores her versatility.
High points include “I’ll Be Blue”, a jukebox-ready swing tune punctuated by pedal steel and brushed percussion; “Walking Through The Black”, a horn-laced soul ballad that channels the spirit of Otis Redding; and “Fields Of Cotton”, a country blues lament that comes off less as homage than as something to which Howle has direct title.
More adventurous moments include “Oh Swear”, a swing-jazz excursion that would have done the Andrews Sisters proud; “Love Is A Fall”, an orchestrated torch song delivered with a cabaret flourish; and “Who Knows”, a bouncy pop ditty that employs a piano figure evocative of the Monkees’ “Daydream Believer”.
Not everything here hits pay dirt. Howle’s duet with Hootie & the Blowfish’s Darius Rucker on Etta James’ “If I Can’t Have You”, for instance, makes a mess of that song’s down-and-dirty blues lasciviousness. (Hootie guitarist Mark Bryan produced the album and did a splendid job; hence its title.) But such missteps are infrequent, and Howle’s occasional stumble attests to her admirable willingness to take chances.