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REVIEWS

Skylar Rogers—Among The Insanity—Blue Heart Records
BHR036

As was the case for most people in the world, the last vestiges of

the pandemic presented Skylar with a myriad of problems but,
her determination to continue, enabled her to team up with Terry
Wilson for this, her third album. The album was recorded at
Taylor Made Studios in Los Angeles, California and Rock Ramano
Studios in Nashville, Tennessee and, in those studios were as-

sembled a stellar group of musicians to help Skylar create the
musical direction she desired to pursue.

The said players were, Skylar Rogers; lead vocals, W.G. Snuffy Walden and Billy Watts; guitars,
Terry Wilson; bass, Bennett Salvay; keyboards, Brannen Temple; drums and percussion with

Darrell Leonard on horns, with Teresa James and Terry Wilson providing backing vocals. Not
only, did Skylar and Terry co-write the twelve numbers here, they also shared producing duties.
‘Love In The Left Lane’, opens the proceedings and it features a powerful mixture of burgeoning
percussion, bubbling low level guitar and organ with a sweetly rising horn section, all the while,

Skylar mutes her powerfully gradually rising, emotion filled vocals.

This mellow, understated soul filled approach, is repeated on ‘Among The Insanity’. This rolling,
sad and despairing tale, describes the remains of a once passion filled romance. ‘One Last Kiss’
plumbs the depths of pain even further, as Skylar’s inconsolable, almost whispering emotive

vocal, seamlessly matches the muted bubbling organ and gentle percussion of this ballad, as she
asks this one request of a former lover. ‘Ride That Lightning’ is definitely in deep, treacle thick
southern soul territory, understated scorching, burning guitar and organ, abetted with ghostly
interjecting horns, are entwined with acid-cutting, vocals courtesy of Skylar, that easily stride
that lightning strike.

Speaking of ‘Ride That Lightning’, this number was recently awarded the title, Jazz/Blues ‘Song
of the Year’ 2023 at the Josie Music awards in Nashville. In a lighter vein, is the rolling and
tumbling strutter ‘Blame It On Rock & Roll’, the subtly raging and ringing guitar entwines well

with Skylars’ throaty fire filled vocals. The slowburning, blues of ‘Between Friends’, features an
evocatively, lonesome and desolate trumpet, illuminating the depressing tale of a three-way
love affair, as Skylar pleads with her lover to be epitome of discretion. The shuffling / striding
blues of ‘Femininity’ is an open letter to all that will listen, that women can be strong, powerful
and feminine all at one time.

Highly commended!

Brian Harman.