Mojomama

No doubt about it: Mojomama's Jessica Rowand can belt. Her vocals are steady and strong, and unlike so many of her peers, she resists the temptation to prove the power of her pipes by oversinging. All she needs is material that's worthy of her. Too bad Think.Feel.Love.Listen doesn't always supply it.

Related Content

• Tequila Mockingbird's various travails have only made the group stronger
  February 11, 2010
• Mile Hi-Fidelity playlist - 02.11.09
  February 12, 2009
• Westword Music Showcase, Year One
  May 2, 2008
• Rubberneckin'
  June 24, 2004
• Backwash
  June 12, 2003

More About

• Jessica Rowand
• Bill Thomas

The players who surround Rowand are skilled instrumentalists, but they're too willing to settle for the sort of generic funk grooves that jam bands have been offering up in these parts since time immemorial -- or at least 1972. Veteran producer Bill Thomas works hard to give the tracks more variety and individuality, but "River" and the excessively earnest "Social Crisis" resist his best efforts.

In contrast, "Take It or Leave It," with its soulful backing vocals, and the punchy, straightforward "Real Thang" come together nicely for a very simple reason: They're good songs. And when Rowand's given superior tunage, her Mojo's all but unstoppable.