Orianthi - 'Some Kind Of Feeling'

Rock Metal Machine
1 day ago
2 min read

Similar to her contemporaries like Joanne Shaw Taylor, Samantha Fish and Erja Lyytinen, Orianthi is not afraid to cross the genre boundaries to wherever the song takes her.

Woman holding a guitar stands against a swirling purple and pink background. Text: "Some Kind of Feeling, Orianthi." Vibrant and moody.

‘Some Kind Of Feeling’ is the sixth studio album by guitarist, singer and songwriter Orianthi. When it comes to her curriculum vitae, there are very few that can match that of the Australian, Orianthi Penny Panagaris. The ultra-talented musician was hired by the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, for his London performances before his untimely death, and has also performed with Alice Cooper, Dave Stewart, Steve Vai and Richie Sambora (RSO), to name but a few.

The follow up to 2022’s ‘Rock Candy’, which was released via Frontiers and very much Hard Rock based, the new opus is more centred around Blues Rock, and personally I think better for it. The legendary Kevin Shirley produces seven of the ten tracks with Orianthi handling the remaining three. For most listeners, you are hardly going to tell the difference, which is testament to Orianthi’s production skills.

The songstress handles guitar, lead and background vocals, and is ably assisted

by Justin Andres (bass), Nick Maybury (guitar), Ed Roth (keyboards), Jimmy Paxson (drums) and Jade MacRae (background vocals).

Opener ‘Attention’ is Pop Rock with a Pat Benatar vibe, whilst the title track has

a more Soul feel to it. The first introduction of true Blues arrives by way of the

outstanding ballad ‘What I've Been Looking For’, where her soloing is off the scale. The Blues continues with a cover of my all-time favourite ZZ Top song ‘Sharp Dressed Man’; you’re never going to better the original, but Orianthi does a great job. Her guitar playing is exemplary as always, but on this album her vocal performance sounds the best ever, highlighted by ‘Ghost’.

The first single, released last year, features her long-time friend Joe Bonamassa. ‘First Time Blues’ has a distinctive Bonamassa riff and another stellar solo from Orianthi. Those worrying that the lady has forgotten how to rock need not, as more blistering guitar work features in ‘Dark Days Are Gone’ and ‘Bad For Each Other’. ‘Call You Mine’ is a sultry ballad where the emotions of her voice match perfectly with the passions of her guitar playing. The opus concludes with the Country-tinged ballad ‘Heaven Right Here’ with a Gospel-style ending.

Similar to her contemporaries like Joanne Shaw Taylor, Samantha Fish and Erja Lyytinen, Orianthi is not afraid to cross the genre boundaries to wherever the song takes her. ‘Some Kind Of Feeling’ is very apt, and then some.

Reviewer: Mark Donnelly

Label: Woodward Avenue

Genre: Rock

Issue Reviewed In: 111

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