While she's established herself as a triple threat over the past decade or so -- infusing her albums and live performances with virtuosic guitar playing, incisive songwriting, and raw, passionate singing -- Susan Tedeschi chose to concentrate fully on the third element in that mix for her fourth studio album. Tedeschi pretty much leaves her guitar in its case, deferring to the tandem of
Doyle Bramhall II and
Derek Trucks (the latter of whom, for the uninitiated, is also her husband) and choosing songs from the catalogs of some of the most respected artists of the past half century. Unlike most "covers" discs, however,
Hope and Desire retraces precious little well-traveled ground: While Tedeschi takes a shot at interpreting Dylan, she chooses to offer up an intimate, decidedly personal version of "Lord Protect My Child" instead of remaking one of Zimmy's better-known tunes. Similarly, she cherry-picks "You Got the Silver" from the sea of Rolling Stones songs, keeping its country-blues tenor but giving it a more rustic tinge than Keith Richards did. The disc's best cuts allow Tedeschi's voice to cut through with a minimum of accompaniment, notably her spin on Otis Redding's "Security" and a breathless version of "Soul of a Man," an undeservedly overlooked gem from the catalog of Fontella Bass. It's rare for an album of covers to seem like an act of progress rather than water-treading, but
Hope and Desire comes across just that way -- a full-speed-ahead chug that inexorably coaxes the listener along for the ride.
