SAMANTHA FISH // PAPER DOLL // ALBUM REVIEW

Samantha Fish has been entrancing the world of Blues since 2011, winning the 2012 Blues Music Award for best new artist for Runaway. Though she is definitely under the umbrella of Blues, there are many other aspects to her music,  rock, country, funk, bluegrass, and ballads play a part. This means her albums have greater depth than much of the competition, as can be heard on her new album Paper Doll. ‘Done Runnin’ gets the album, well running, with a bit of expressive Funk & Blues, a powerful blend of vocals is enhanced with some fast six-string action.

Hailing from Kansas City her albums have seen many accolades come her way. Fish knows when to illicit anger and vitriol in her music, ‘Can Ya Handle The Heat’ demonstrates this, the track enhanced with keys that become one with her guitar. ‘Lose You’ has a touch of Country, it’s a bit slower but is not short on grit as it builds almost in gospel fashion, seeing the vocals get gritty. Now we are in real Blues territory with ‘Sweet Southern Sounds’ which fuses her vocals with searing guitar work. Four songs in, and the album is proving to be vibrant and intense.

I feel we need something more laid back, and we get it with ‘Off In The Blue’, this demonstrates her vocal range perfectly and showcases a more subtle guitar playing.

Another change sees the brooding spoken part create a dark mood on ‘Fortune Teller’, the tempo remains slow with a pervading feel of menace, then it explodes, unexpectedly with venom, into a Bluegrass romp. It is easy to picture Fish wielding her axe with fury. ‘Rusty Razor’ features Mick Collins with sharp-edged chords; it is ruthless. The title track has a modern feel with the punchy vocal lines almost rapping, my guess is Fish is stating that she is no ‘Paper Doll’. Album closer ‘Don’t Say it’ builds from an impassioned guitar and vocal that, I will say it, captivates.

I imagine our performer is in perpetual motion on stage with an angst-ridden image that doesn’t hold back.

Review: Paul Mace

Samatha Fish’s new album “Paper Doll” is released by Rounder Records on Friday April 25^th.  

Pre-order / pre-save Paper Doll (out April 25) here: https://found.ee/SFPaperDoll

TRACKLIST
1.       I’m Done Runnin’
2.      Can Ya Handle The Heat?
3.      Lose You
4.      Sweet Southern Sounds
5.      Off In The Blue
6.      Fortune Teller
7.      Rusty Razor (feat. Mick Collins)
8.      Paper Doll
9.      Don’t Say It

She tours the UK from May 28 – June 1^st. Further information:  https://samanthafish.com

May.28.2025 – Cheese & Grain – Frome, UK

May.29.2025 – Red Rooster Festival, Thetford, UK

May.30.2025 – Arts Club – Liverpool, UK

May.31.2025 – The Brook – Southampton, UK

June.1.2025 – Academy 2 – Oxford, UK

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