Carolyn Wonderland never does things nice and easy. Whether matching stinging guitar licks and a hammering beat, or railing against an unfair world with righteous fury, this Texas powerhouse refuses to temper her passionate testimonials, giving all in every note. Nothing is taken lightly on Truth Is, which sizzles from start to finish.
A mainstay of the Houston and Austin scenes for well over two decades, Wonderland also served as lead guitarist for British legend John Mayall in the final chapter of his career, but she’s more than a gifted blues player. In addition to fierce boogie grooves, Truth Is spans a broad range of sounds, from tender late-night lullabies, to funky raveups, to downhome rambles. Produced by Dave Alvin, who also did the honors on her last outing, the album gives equal space to Wonderland’s six-string versatility and her insistent yet deceptively flexible voice. She can howl like a banshee and croon with cocktail-lounge verve, impressing either way.
