Rosie Flores

Now into the fourth decade of her career, rockabilly/roots veteran Flores still has something to prove. In this case, it's to showcase her underrated skills as a guitarist, and this is the first album on which she plays all the lead and rhythm parts. Fittingly, this fine disc begins (the rousing title track) and ends (a sweet version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps") with axe-themed tunes. In between is a mix of originals and covers that show her stylistic versatility. She's been termed a "rockabilly filly," but Flores serves up surf (cool instrumental "Surf Demon #5"), blues (Lavelle White's "If I Could Be With You"), vintage rock'n'roll (Janis Martin smash "Drugstore Rock And Roll") and '60s pop. Her remake of Bobby Vee '60s hit "Love Must Have Passed Me By" features guest vocals from Vee himself ― a nice touch. That song and "Yeah Yeah," a moving tribute to late comrade Duane Jarvis and the strongest original here, prove she is just as convincing vocally as instrumentally. This Working Girl's Guitar is in top form here.