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bethhart betterthanhomeNeither musically nor lyrically has the Grammy nominated song writer Beth Hart sounded as good as on her new record ‘Better than Home’. When she sings time stands still, hearts begin to dance and goose bumps spread all over the body. A critic of the British web radio Planetmosh admitted that he was blown away by her vocals and the music magazine American Songwriter concluded that her raw and tenacious voice is a “powerful instrument for dramatic, popular ballads”.

This extraordinary voice has moved guitar legends like Jeff Beck, Slash, Joe Bonamassa and Buddy Guy to record songs and perform on stage with Beth Hart. With the hit single ‘L.A. Song (Out of this Town)’ she drew national attention and reached position six in the Billboard Modern AC charts as well as position seven in the Adult Top 40. The following record ‘Bang Bang Boom Boom’ reached position three of the Billboard Top Blues record charts and shortly after that she was nominated for the Blues Music Award. These are only one of the few positions she was able to reach with her music in America. The number one single ‘Leave the Light On’ from her live record ’37 Days’ proves she has also reached international fame.

At the awarding of the Kennedy prize which was hosted by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2012 she received one of only two standing ovations for her tribute song to Buddy Guy which she performed together with Jeff Beck. Fascinated by the lady with one of the most unique vocals of our times Michael Steven, the producer of the event, and its musical conductor Rob Mathes decided to produce her new record ‘Better than Home’.

‘Better than Home’ is Beth Hart's most introspective record so far. It delves in the depths of her soul, reveals horrendous pains from the past, gives insight into her family life and her personal demons. But it also shows how she has looked back on her past and reappraised it in order to find the true beauty in her life. One line of the title song sums it up perfectly:

“I can feel my body breathing, I can feel my heart movin’ fast
I am not afraid or lonely; I am not chasing the ghost of the past”

Beth Hart has left the past behind and finds joy in the great things she has done and achieved. “I am blessed by god and surrounded by love. It's even better than what I have dreamed of as a child.”

The song ‘Mechanical Heart’ is dedicated to her husband Scott Guetzkow. She admits, “it's my way of saying: 'Yes, I am neither normal nor healthy but I will find a way to give you everything you need and want in life'”. On the other hand, she describes ‘Trouble’ with a wink as a song for bad girls. It deals with a woman that doesn't mean to cause any trouble but still finds joy in it. In the very vigorous ‘We're Still Living in the City’ she depicts the story of the life of a couple after their marriage. “Their life is an Up and Down, like a roller coaster. But no matter what happens they are still crazy for one another.”

The hymn ‘St. Teresa’ is inspired by the film ‘Dead Man Walking’ and is written from the perspective of an inmate, “a man who knows that everyone hates him and a very faithful woman who loves him and stays true to him no matter what happens.” The stirring ballad ‘As Long as I Have a Song’ represents Beth Hart's love-hate of being a songwriter. She reveals that “I love to share with people but sometimes all my ideas disappear. In that case I try everything to escape this writer's block.” Her lack of fear of admitting failure is processed in the mid-tempo song ‘Might as well Smile’. “This song is a reminder that we take ourselves too often too seriously. It's better to smile, to relax and to just let the apparently hard times be.”

One of the most personal pieces on the record is ‘Tell 'Em You Belong to Me’. “It's about the relationship to my father. When I was a child we were very close but then he married his wife who forbade him contact with me. With this song I try to tell him 'Tell the lady that you are my father!'“. The jolly side of Beth Hart is revealed on ‘The Mood That I'm in’. “It's a happy track and it deals with love and dates in the evening. You are crazy for someone but this person has no time for you. Thus you simply go out and look for other people to have fun with.” In the highly emotional ‘Mama, This One's For you’ which is included on the limited edition she doesn't hide back from confessing her love to her mother. “It's the most important song on the record for me because I have learned by now how blessed I am with my mother.”

‘Better than Home’ doesn't deal with all the problems Beth Hart had to cope with during her life. Instead she focuses on the good things which have always surrounded her: she accepts and loves her parents for what they are, she praises her husband and confronts her fears directly. She has finally found a way to free herself from them and transform them into positive energy with music which can move people's hearts. The moving, self-composed record reaches the hearer on a very personal level because the extraordinary artist has found a perfect formula to unveil her inner voice and reinforce it with her legendary outer one. As good as it can be.

Tracklist
01 Might As Well Smile
02 Tell ‘Em To Hold On
03 Tell Her You Belong To Me
04 Trouble
05 Better Than Home
06 St. Teresa
07 We’re Still Living In The City
08 The Mood That I’m In
09 Mechanical Heart
10 As Long As I Have A Song
11 Mama This One’s For You (bonus track on limited edition)

The album is released on 10th April 2015 Mascot Label Group / Provogue. You’ll get the song ‘Might As Well Smile’ already as free download at http://www.unlock.fm/1np.


Source: Press Release


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