Things Have Changed
Bettye LaVette · 2018
59 min · 12 tracks · blues
A soulful tapestry of Dylan covers woven with raw emotion and LaVette's commanding vocal delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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Things Have Changed — The title track stands out for its emotional depth, with LaVette's delivery transforming Dylan's lyrics into a personal reflection on resilience and change.
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It Ain’t Me Babe — LaVette's rendition infuses this classic with a sense of bitterness and longing, showcasing her ability to convey complex emotions through her powerful voice.
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Political World — This track highlights LaVette's unique blend of political commentary and personal storytelling, making it a poignant reflection of contemporary societal issues.
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The Times They Are A-Changin' — Her interpretation brings a new urgency to this iconic anthem, emphasizing its relevance in today's social climate while revealing her vocal prowess.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
LaVette's soulful reinterpretations and strong vocal presence create a distinctive and cohesive experience.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent tempo throughout, with most tracks maintaining a slow to mid-tempo pace that emphasizes LaVette's vocal delivery.
- Each track is arranged to highlight the emotional weight of the lyrics, often using minimal instrumentation to create space for her voice.
- The sequencing places the more introspective songs towards the middle, allowing for a build-up to the more powerful closing tracks.
- 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 emotional exploration throughout
- raw vocal power on display
- mid-tempo reflective listening session
- soulful interpretations of familiar themes
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, upbeat tracks
- seek instant gratification in music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2018, Things Have Changed marked Bettye LaVette's return to the forefront of contemporary music after decades of influential but often overlooked work. This album came a decade after her Grammy-nominated album Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook, showcasing her continued artistic evolution and relevance in the blues and soul genres.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Mavis Staples· Etta James· Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Things Have Changed 6:57
- 2 It Ain’t Me Babe 5:29
- 3 Political World 4:03
- 4 Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight 5:06
- 5 Seeing the Real You at Last 5:06
- 6 Mama, You Been on My Mind 3:45
- 7 Ain’t Talkin’ 5:39
- 8 The Times They Are A-Changin' 5:07
- 9 What Was It You Wanted 4:42
- 10 Emotionally Yours 5:24
- 11 Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others) 3:35
- 12 Going, Going, Gone 4:05
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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