Austin Daze

                                       June 2006

LZ Love

My Higher Ground

2006 Independently Release

Score -7.5 Out of 8

Here it is folks. LZ Love delivers a powerful blend of funk, soul, gospel, R&B and rock that echo more of 70,s Motown than the live music capitol.

This is the real deal. It contains every bit of the grit that put this girl on the same stage or studio as James Brown, Luther Vandross, George Benson, Natalie Cole, Clarence Clemons, The Neville Brothers, Joan Armatrding, Bonnie Raitt, P-Funk, Sister Sledge, Carolyn Wonderland, Michael Franti, Shelly King and Papa Mali.

The first thing that hits you is the power of her band. A tight, in the pocket rhythm section just dripping with funk, a keyboard style you might expect from Stevie Wonder, and red hot guitar that you would expect from any project based in Austin.

Everything just locks in so sweetly, and then LZ starts to sing.

LZs voice is a classic. Comparisons to Aretha or Tina Turner will definitely happen.

Shes that girl in the Southern Baptist choir that sets herself apart and gets the spotlight towards the end of the service when it all gets pushed over the top and everybody leaves their seats.

The next thing that hits you is the songwriting.

Many times I had to grab the insert, looking up the credits thinking she didnt really write that, did she? This is an obscure Otis Redding or Al Green song, right? Nope. She wrote or co-wrote every song.

The arrangements and production complement the songs nicely, and make for a well-rounded package.

Without a doubt Lz is a powerful vocalist, one of the best in Austin today. But its very likely that Ruthie Foster still holds top honors in this category, Austin music fans will inevitably compare the two, like the two best gunslingers. But stylistically, they are apples and oranges in their music. And even if Ruthie dose have a better voice, LZ might be a more inspired songwriter. The important part is they both call Austin home.

MARIA MESA- Austin Daze Magazine

Chicago born LZ certainly wears her heart on her sleeve and shows every sign of expressing her grass roots through her music. Raised in California, LZ started singing in her mother's church at the tender age of just 5 years old and if you think you recognize her sultry vocals it's probably because you do. LZ made quite a name for herself in the UK with a handful of dance records which she released from 1999 - 2005. LZ now lives in Austin Texas and with this in mind you can hear the sounds of the live music capital resound throughout her album, 'My Higher Ground'. Hand in hand with everything you would expect from a talented jazz/soul singer, this album makes for a perfect summer recipe. 'Words' kicks it off with ambient bass rifts, funk and LZ's gorgeous sultry vocals. 'My Higher Ground' itself is the pinnacle of the album and lends itself to the likes of Floetry and Lauren Hill which is no bad thing! 'Thank You' and 'Trials' highlight perfectly the trials of life nurturing younger family members and at certain times the album feels quite emotional. Love co-wrote all of the songs on this album and passionately communicates with the listener through fusions of intense funk, soul, southern blues and r&b. If R&B isn't your thing then don't let this shadow the fact that this album is great. It's got summer written all over it. For more information you can visit: www.lz-love.com
Review by: Grace Wood - www.glasswerk.co.uk

LZ Love

LZ Love has lived. On her debut album My Higher Ground she takes us on a spiritual journey, and you just know she has that first-hand experience necessary to be able to write such insightful lyrics. Born in Chicago and now living in Austin, Texas, the live musical capital of the world, she began singing at her mothers church as a child. LZ showcases her rich vocal talents throughout the entire album in a variety of styles, evidently borrowing from her childhood influences as well as her current surroundings. Much of her debut has a meloncholy element whilst still remaining hopeful, and perhaps that's her biggest asset. LZ is relatable, warm, unassuming and ever-searching. The lament 'Never Had A Love strangely channels Prince, or at least what he may have sounded like if he went acoustic. It is a prime showcase of LZs brave lyrics, especially when she painfully admits From being rejected and all aloneI never had a love of my own/One that I can say really truly loves me. The gospel and southern-blues sound of title track 'My Higher Ground and self-penned Words, with co-lead vocals by Michael Franti, are up-beat offerings, providing the album with some needed musical relief. This is especially the case with Something Good, which is as inspirational as it can get. The girl shows us that she still knows how to have fun on Don't Stop, with its guitar-heavy sound and infectious beat. Elsewhere, 'Mama and Thank You pay homage to her greatest inspirations, her mother and her faith. The outro Trials is a soulful accapella where LZ assures us They say if you wait/Your time will come/I'm going to keep on workingTill my day is done, in case you didn't pick up on her conviction and determination already. Here, her voice is left to it's own devices and the results are stunning. LZ's time certainly has come and her day is just beginning.

Reviewer: Billy Stathopoulos Media Search Australia