Bonnie Raitt
Souls Alike
Capitol

Souls Alike embraces Bonnie Raitt’s best qualities while covering new ground.

The latest album features an edgy set that successfully balances Raitt’s two sides – the rock balladeer and the blues guitarist. It also boldly adds touches of funk and some swampy soul. Raitt takes over producing duties for the first time in her 18-album career, which may explain the darker direction that the album takes.

The CD opens with the single, “I Will Not Be Broken.” It’s a beautifully performed song about finding one’s own way. Throughout her career, Raitt has chosen material with grown-up themes. That continues to be the case here.

Raitt, a fine songwriter, surprisingly does not have any of her own tunes on the album. Instead, she turns over the writing duties to others, including Jon Cleary, Maia Sharp and David Batteau, who contribute several songs.

Sharp and Batteau’s bittersweet ballad “This Bed I Made” closes the CD. The opening and closing numbers are the standouts, but there is plenty of worthwhile material in between.

“Unnecessarily Mercenary” is an infectious number that features some strong vocals as well as Raitt’s slide guitar. “Crooked Crown,” with its swirling sound and modern effects, is the album’s biggest departure. In several instances, “Souls Alike” explores a new sound for Raitt. But, the production and the material never get in her way. Raitt’s everywoman earthiness comes through. - D. Kimura