Joanna Connor has always had the reputation of being the hardest rocking of the Blueswomen who are on the road fronting their own bands. She’s a dynamic live performer who can easily please the toughest beer drinking biker crowd out there. "Slidetime" is already her fourth disc on the Blind Pig label and the follow up to her 1996 release "Big Girl Blues."

Joanna has really come into her own as a songwriter with all of the eleven tracks penned by her. The opening cut is a very personal song called "Nothin’ But The Blues." While this doesn’t exactly describe Joanna’s music, "Slidetime" is bluesier than her previous offerings. Maybe Joanna figures she doesn’t need to prove her guitar prowess anymore by rocking out on every cut.

I enjoyed the funkier songs on the disc such as "At The Club" and "Slide On In" (with the obligatory suggestive song title). In a song called "It’s Not The Rock" Joanna sings "it’s not the rock it’s the blues that always get you." However this is one song that is much more rock than blues. Another song called "Free Free Woman" is a tune that a confident Joanna obviously enjoys singing. She also throws in a pretty impressive guitar solo as well.

The softest song on the disc is the final cut called "Pea Vine Blues." This is a southern style blues ballad featuring Joanna on the acoustic slide guitar. It’s a beautiful melody and a fitting end to a very pleasing set of music.

Joanna Connor is an artist who must be seen live to fully appreciate her talent. Luckily for us we’ll have that opportunity when she rolls into town for a show at Burke’s Tavern on Friday July 10th. So go out and pick up "Slidetime" and then come out and see Joanna play all of her new songs.

****