Bitter Twisted Wrong - Review

There's not a lot to go on in terms of influences and musical background with Chrystina Tomlin and her website offers few clues except that making music seems to have been her destiny from a young age.

The reason I am puzzled is because 'Bitter Twisted Wrong' sounds remarkably mature for a debut album and the impression is she is backed by a full band when in fact it is one multi-instrumentalist, Phillip Goss, providing all the backing.

Her voice on the wah-wah guitar inflected opener 'Your Demise' sounds very different to the second song 'Stand Corrected' (with its syncopated rhythms) and on 'No More' yet another facet is revealed largely due to the acoustic as opposed to electric treatment.
The last named song, understandably full of angst, deals with the difficult subject of an abusive relationship and is indicative of what Chrystina freely admits in the press release that on the album she's had the chance 'to express all of my emotional baggage'.
There's a touch of blues in the guitar playing on 'Sometimes' and an energetic rhythmic 'funky' vibe on 'Accusations' that suggest if they were K.T. Tunstall songs they would doubtless be gracing the charts.
Her song writing ability could also teach Joss Stone a thing or two!

The variety of instrumentation helps sustain interest throughout the album and the piano led ballads 'Lonely Tonight' (great vocal range!) and 'Losing You' show yet another side to Tomlin's music.

'Stand Corrected' and 'Your Way' make use of heavy electric guitar but the arrangements are always varied. On 'Poison' Tomlin sounds very much like a 60s R & B singer- the only thing missing is the beehive! The title track has a great bass/ percussion conclusion with Tomlin's multi-tracked vocals providing a haunting quality.


The 'up close and personal' approach may not be to everybody's taste but Chrystina Tomlin's voice is a joy and gives the impression she's listened to and learned from quite a few classic singers- Aretha Franklin et al. (Take a listen to 'Never Ever' for an impassioned soul delivery for instance).

Phil Jackson