Committed, uncompromising, and passionate, this is serious blues, at its base form. Throwing out all the unnecessary, Doo-Kingué presents her ace guitar playing and songwriting in this totally solo acoustic album. It's made up of nine hard-core numbers that look at everything from social injustices to prejudice to desire.
Those who think the blues can't tackle modern problems would learn a lot here. Doo-Kingué tears Vladimir Putin a new one over anti-gay legislation in Russia in the song Bloodstained Vodka, and in the process points out how little Western countries did during the Olympics in that country as well. Her unique upbringing adds to her lyrics; from NYC, of Cameroon parents, lived in France, and now Montreal, her multi-cultural, multi-lingual world view is one of compassion with an angry streak in all the right directions. Plus, you can hear it in her guitar playing as well, a world blues.
She's not the first person to step away from the band and make a solo acoustic record, but it's incredibly arresting coming from her. All the emotions she brings seem sharper in this setting, enough to make you blush when she gets personal, smile at her life-affirming moments, or join her in protest. And good news; this is the first of a trilogy.
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