Ally Venable – Money & Power – Album Review – noblepr

Review By Darren McIntyre

Ally Venable is a critically acclaimed guitarist / vocalist from Kilgore, Texas who began her journey in the music industry when she began singing in church aged 4, by 12 Ally picked up a guitar and by aged 13 started her own band. Through her early influences of Stevie Ray Vaughan she captured a passion and yearning for a more blues genre, Ally has given us No Glass Shoes in 2016, Puppet Show in 2018, Texas Honey in 2019, Heart Of Fire in 2021, Real Gone in 2023 & today Ally unleashes her stunning new album Money & Power which I will be reviewing for you today.

Brown Liquor – A foot stomping, slick, gritty guitar lick opens the track as a solid snare drum beat lets the rhythm bring this track to our attention as Ally lets her soulful vocals take the track down the road. The sizzling keys are flowing freely through the track as a cool, dark bassline drops in and gives the piece depth, swagger and bags of guts as we punch the air with joy as we celebrate this incredible artist and what she brings to the table today, the fingerwork is just stunning as a real gutsy blues riff tears through the heart of this honky tonk style track as the groove grabs a hold of us as we really dig the setup coming at us right now. The whole arrangement is a real shot in the arm as Ally lets her cool, sultry blues soaked vocals bring this track to our attention.

Maybe Someday – Piano tinkling and a sweet blues style guitar pick get us underway as we get cool saxophone, trumpet and deep pulsing basslines that wrap themselves around this incredible arrangement. The Hammond style keys are really elevating this toe tapping blues eruption as Ally lets her gravelly. blues soaked vocals run effortlessly through the mid section of this epic track, the rhythm section is commanding the room with it’s solid tones and punchy grooves as we really let this musician take us on the journey with her as she draws us in and really socks it to us. The horn section is a real cool addition to this soulful blues track as we really get what this musician is really all about.

Money & Power – Cranking up the power comes a real sludgy, gritty guitar riff that just blows the cobwebs away from the instant it hits our ears as we feel the groove rushing towards us. The rhythm section is really bringing the heat as it giveus real snare drum punches as the bass kick lets the tone shine as this crunching groover erupts with a hail of slick, clean, fuzzy guitar licks that just pop as this storming rock n roller kicks in the doors and really gives us the Money & Power which we were searching for. This is a real tearing the house down track that showcases the versatility of this epic young musician as she builds on her experience with a real dazzling display of prowess and songwriting that has killer riffs to match the whole tone of this phenomenal album.

Do You Cry – Dark, moody guitar licks ooze from the intro as a solid snare drum punch fills the air as Ally lets her phenomenal vocals lead the way for this soulful, dark, emotion filled track. A cool, deep bassline is wrapping itself around the musicality as it unfolds with a real deep tone that just stops you in your tracks, the beat is a toe tapping, sultry blues effort that just builds and builds as the track unfolds with real groove as a slick, melodic solo with a sludgy edge oozes from the track as we just allow ourselves to be drawn in by this incredible artist as the album really takes shape with each track as we uncover something different with every note that flows freely through the arrangement.

Heal Me – A crunching, dark riffs spills from the intro as the rhythm section kicks in with a pounding snare drum kick as the bass groove welcomes cymbal snaps that really let this track flourish. The vocals really bring out the music as the deep, dark, meaty bass grooves really elevate this foot stomping, fist pumping bruiser that just keeps giving and giving, the arrangement welcomes a real grooving raspy vocal that lets the track breathe as we really let this talented, young musician do her thing as slide guitar licks fill the air as this incredible track really tells it’s own story as Ally really showcases her soaring vocals that match the gritty groove pound for pound.

Stopper Back Papa – A real funky toe tapping groove rolls from the intro as cool, slick guitar licks really give this track swagger and tone as we get a real sultry beat that grabs our attention. The rhythm section is providing the beat as bass kicks make themselves known to us as this fist pumping groover builds and builds as we get slick licks that just take this track to another place as we tap our toes to this real infectious groove. Vocals are just telling their own story as Ally brings the riffs and groove to this funk laden track that is just rising and rising as we go through our paces with this real gem of an album that is just something special.

Legends – Melodic vocals come to our attention as the cool slick guitar picks roll from the intro as this soulful track builds and builds as the snare drum punches let the rhythm section take us down the road. Basslines are handing us a cool, meaty funk groove that has sweet backing vocals that let the track flow effortlessly as the track kicks in with sweet, crisp guitar licks that really let the track open and soar. The whole track is a sizzling, punchy well written groove laden track that really brings a smile to your face as the beat builds and just cements itself with slick gritty guitar grooves that just let us slip away and feel the energy pouring from this awesome track.s Ally lets the vocals shine as this punchy groover track brings the Hammond keys to our attention. Dark, meaty basslines are wrapping themselves around this real doozy of a track as the rocking blues tone ju

Keep Me In Mind – A slow paced groove lets this track grab our attention as the cool bass kicks control the tone as Ally lets her sweet, mellow vocals bring the track to life as we just feel the emotion. The killer Hammond style keys are fantastic as they instantly lift the arrangement as let the blues effect wrap itself around us as the smouldering lyrics let the story unfold, the crisp guitar licks are letting the tone flow freely as we let the groove build as the whole track puts a smile on your face as the musicality really shines through as we let Ally and the band do their thing as we just let the whole thing wash over us and really deliver something special from this epic talent.

Unbreakable – Blues erupts from the off as this sludgy, gritty guitar led ttrack as soulful bluesy vocals ooze through and let the whole track shine as the rhythm section delivers a killer snare drum kick that really elevates this awesome track. Cool, dark, brooding bassline grooves are flowing effortlessly through the track as we get the full guitar licks that Ally is hitting us with as we really lose ourselves with the rawness, vulnerability of this sensational musician as she shows no signs of slowing down, the musicians are really shining through as we get the real edgy power that is oozing from this album.

Stepping Stone – A cool sludgy guitar pick gets the track underway as solid snare drum punches fill the air as Ally’s smouldering vocals let the track breathe as we feel the emotion oozing from the off. The bass is hitting us with real mellow funk tones that just let the track flow as the cool Hammond style keys lean in and let the tone shine, we are really letting ourselves be drawn in by this awesome musician as she really ups the tempo with this colossal track that brings cool backing vocals that let the track flow. The rhythm section is controlling the groove as the cymbal crashes rain down on us as Ally lets rip with a real blues filled solo that is incredible as it just lets her express herself and how she is carving her way through the industry and letting everyone know that she has brought us a killer new album.

Feel That Sting – Bass kicks are the order of the day as this slick track oozes from the off as Ally lets the vocals take the track down the road as we get a cool punchy tone coupled with sweet clean guitar licks that just shine. The rhythm section erupts with solid snare drum beats that let the cymbal crashes tell their own story as this bruising groover really comes at us with a vengeful riff that just allows Ally to breathe, the cool bassline is handing us a mellow, funk laden tone that just takes the track to another place as the soothing mellow vocals lean in and let the punchy groove wrap itself around us as we head to the final track of what has been a killer new release.

Black Cat – Finishing off we get a real slick, sludgy guitar riff that brings in the saxophone, trumpet and awesome Hammond style keys that let the groove flow freely from the outset. Killer bass grooves are working hard as they direct the tone of this foot stomping, fist pumping rock n roll bruiser that is just the perfect way to bring down the curtain on this stunning new offering, the vocals are just lifting the track as Ally lets her smouldering blues filled vocals wrap themselves around this deep, melodic number as she leans in and offloads with a real crisp, riff that has us stamping our feet and feeling the blues as the groove catches our attention and really gets us punching the air with excitement from this sizzling track that just ticks all the boxes.

Ally Venable –

Ally Venable – Vocals / Guitar

Kenny Greenberg – Guitar

Rob Coreton – Bass

E J Bedford – Bass / Keys

Tim Lauer – Keys

Luke Mosely – Keys

Jorion Dawson – Saxophone

Jason Grant – Trumpet

Rachel Hambridge – Backing Vocals

Sarah Hambridge – Backing Vocals

Tom Hambridge – Drums