LaVette!
Bettye LaVette · 2023
54 min · 11 tracks · blues
A powerful blend of blues and soul, infused with raw emotion and storytelling that resonates deeply.
Top tracks — play these first
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Don’t Get Me Started — This track exemplifies LaVette's dynamic vocal delivery and emotive storytelling, encapsulating the album's themes of resilience and defiance.
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Hard to Be a Human — The poignant lyrics address the complexities of modern life, delivered with LaVette's signature rawness that evokes deep empathy.
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I’m Not Gonna Waste My Love — This song highlights LaVette's ability to convey vulnerability while maintaining strength, showcasing her mastery of emotional nuance.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
LaVette! showcases strong songwriting and vocal performance, with effective pacing and emotional depth throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, soulful track that sets a reflective tone, followed by a mid-tempo song that introduces a more upbeat energy.
- Several tracks feature prominent horn arrangements that enhance the emotional delivery of LaVette's vocals.
- The last three tracks shift to a more introspective mood, with stripped-back instrumentation allowing LaVette's voice to take center stage.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo emotional arcs
- rich storytelling through resilience
- reflective moments of introspection
- warm background for gatherings
- engaging narratives in every track
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of fast-paced thrills
- prefer standalone singles only
Where this album fits
- Career context
- LaVette! marks Bettye LaVette's first studio album in nearly five years since 2018's 'Things Have Changed'. At this stage in her career, LaVette has solidified her reputation as a master interpreter of song, blending her rich vocal style with poignant narratives drawn from personal experience. This release comes after a resurgence in recognition following her acclaimed performances and recordings over the last two decades.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Mavis Staples· Etta James· Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 See Through Me 3:48
- 2 Don’t Get Me Started 5:11
- 3 Lazy (And I Know It) 5:17
- 4 Sooner or Later 5:03
- 5 Plan B 3:43
- 6 Concrete Mind 4:13
- 7 In the Meantime 4:31
- 8 Mess About It 5:48
- 9 Hard to Be a Human 4:40
- 10 I’m Not Gonna Waste My Love 4:57
- 11 It’s Alright 6:55
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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