Artist:     Elle King

Album:     Shake The Spirit

Label:     RCA Records

Release Date:     10.19.2018

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In 2015, singer-songwriter Elle King’s hard-rocking first single, “Ex’s & Ohs,” played in every store and restaurant. King’s second CD busts loose with that familiar, danceable mix of rocking country, funk, and blues that will appeal to Christine Ohlman fans. King’s confessional, bad-girl lyrics are reminiscent of Amy Winehouse but with a hopeful drive. In 2016, Elle King’s grueling tour schedule paid off. “Ex’s & Ohs” peaked at 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Too worn out to know better, she got married quickly and divorced just as quickly. Recognizing alcohol dependence and mental health issues, King resolved to hang onto what she’d achieved professionally. In a promo video, she recalls thinking, “Shake your spirit! You’ve gotta shake this fu**ing darkness off of you!”

Searching for healing, she writes without flinching, building lyrics with strongly personal humor. In “Talk of the Town,” she swears without coyness, never falling into lazy sensationalism for mere shock value. King wrote or co-wrote all 13 songs, and produced, or co‑produced, 10. The rock and blues melodies carry honest emotional freight. She plays excellent guitar, lap steel, drums and bass (sorry, no banjo this time!), surrounded by first-rate studio players (listed on the CD).

Inspired by Del Shannon’s 1967 hit, “Runaway” beautifully retells the tale from the girl’s point of view. “The only way to love is get yourself burned,” she vows, backed by an 11-piece string section. “Ram Jam” is an exciting celebration of the moment at a group meeting when she lets herself off the hook and awakens to her life. “Sober” is a ‘50’s style Country waltz, complete with a talking section, set to a woozy, boozy chord progression. Here King discusses how she used alcohol, at first, to deal with the end of her marriage.

In “Shame,” co-written with producer Tim Pagnotta, King explains her belief that the power of her sexual energy is a challenge to a man and her loving will heal his soul. “I can make you shake. Rattle your bones,” she sings with cool confidence. In “It Girl,” she states, “I hate to wait so I always put out on the first date. My reputation’s great. Just ask any of my first dates.” In four short, funny lines, she’s exposed herself as that fast girl you used to judge (or be judged as) in school, and that fast girl has feelings. Sure, she’s looking for attention but she has substantial things to say. This sets her apart from others who may wear smaller jeans but likely won’t be remembered as long as Elle King.

—Annie Dinerman