Beth Hart Screamin' For My Supper

Review #1

Have you heard of Beth Hart? No, you say? Well, hold on to your socks, because YOU WILL. Screamin’ For My Supper, Hart’s recently released follow-up to her 1996 debut, Immortal, does a much better job of showcasing what is, without a doubt, Beth Hart’s most valuable asset - her voice. While Immortal, a wonderful debut which sadly went virtually unnoticed by music-buying consumers, had slicker production and a more "polished" overall feel, Screamin' leaves all the right wounds gaping open for the world to see. Hart’s whiskey-drenched, gut-wrenching vocals are left exactly where they should be - out in front. The music holds its own, however, remaining an appropriate complement without overshadowing the raw power of Hart’s voice.

Described in the September 1999 issue of Spin Magazine as "...a woman who could kick Sheryl Crow’s ass in a bar fight and still take on Fiona Apple...", Hart’s gutsy style is all her own. Inevitable comparisons to Janis Joplin aside, in truth, she sounds like no one else. It is apparent that her voice resonates not from her throat, but from somewhere else, deep within her soul. Whether it be full-tilt rockers like "Delicious Surprise", or tug-at-the-heartstrings ballads like the debut single from the album, "LA Song", Hart pulls it all off, and she does it flawlessly. Lyrically, Hart has grown tremendously since Immortal, and it is evident that she has poured much more of her own essence into this album. After a difficult yet sobering period of self discovery that followed Immortal, she has reemerged wiser and more at peace with herself. The loneliness and despair that permeate "LA Song", Hart’s passion-soaked account of this period, make us all feel as though we have been there, and most, if not all of us, have (at one time or another). Hart’s words pull no punches. What you see is what you get, no-holds-barred, and this philosophy is blatantly evident when Hart asks, "Did you stash your soul into the closet forever?" on "Get Your Sh-t Together". Even with her love for the raw and the dirty, there is still room for humble vulnerability, as in the powerful yet pleading strands of "Skin" and the bluesy tribute "Mama".

 Throughout all 13 tracks, and one hidden track, "House of Sin", Hart’s all-encompassing vocals will surround and enfold you, as she begs you to be a part of her inner world, warts and all. With Screamin’ For My Supper, Beth Hart has accomplished a rare feat - she has made an album that, with very few exceptions, is nearly perfect. Unknown though she may be at present, she definitely won’t stay that way for very long. 

And just remember, you heard it here first..... - Reviewed by Mara Zeman, Contributing Writer  

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Review #2

L.A.-based rock singer Beth Hart released Screamin' For My Supper in 1999, three years after her debut Immortal . Producing herself, with help from long-time collaborator Tal Herzberg, and playing piano, keyboards and arranging string sections, Screamin' For My Supper is a mature, fully-realized sounding record. 

She kicks things off with {&"Just A Little Hole, "} a mid-tempo, smoldering cut with organ that gives it a blues/gospel feel. Hart's slightly raspy vocals compliment things with a twinge of heartache and regret. {&"Delicious Surprise"} is a punchy, roots-inflected rocker co-written with Glen Burtnik.{&"L.A. Song, "} the lead single, explores the darker side of sunny Southern California with gentle piano backing and hushed, understated vocals which makes the song thought-provoking and compelling. 

Other noteworthy cuts include the slinky melody of {&"Is That Too Much To Ask, "} with an infectious chorus and smoking harmonica, and the poignant {&"By Her, "} which adds strings and accordion to the mix. Screamin' For My Supper is a confidant effort that is a bit more rough-hewn than Sheryl Crow, but fits comfortable into the same arena. 

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Review #3

***** I would give it more if I could May 8, 2000
Reviewer: John M. Bentley (see more about me) from Atlanta, GA 
I was anxiously awaiting Beth Hart's performance this pas weekend at Music Midtown here in Atlanta, GA. I wanted to see if she could match the billing that she'd been given, and if she was as good as she is on this CD. 

What I witnessed was without out a doubt the most incandescent, out-right full-on assault I have ever witnessed. I stood there in awe of the performance that I honestly felt blessed to be witnessing. Never before I have I witnessed the kind of raw power that a performer can have over an audience. Everyone within earshot (with Beth, that's a long way!) stopped what they were doing and stared at the stage. This simple creature who's prone to white trash and swearing is the living embodiment of blues and soul. Who, with only her looks and her talent charged forth onto the stage and attacked the material that she had to work with. I feel that I was part of something that, going forward I will be able to say, I was there, I heard, and I saw. Can't wait to hear what she comes out with next. 

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