Irma Thomas Issue #28

After the Rain (Rounder)

By Jocelyn Brown
Published: June 1st, 2006 | 1:10pm

New Orleans songstress Irma Thomas has endured a lot over the course of more than 40 years in the music game. Beginning her career in 1960, Thomas hit a high note with many forward-thinking ladies upon releasing her debut single, “You Can Have My Husband (But Don’t Mess With My Man).” Soon Thomas was able to celebrate several hits on the Billboard charts and being covered by the likes of Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones within five years of recording her first song. With a sassy voice that could stop Patti Labelle or Aretha Franklin in their tracks, Thomas has been blazing trails ever since, touring virtually nonstop, running a successful nightclub with her husband, and raising a family in-between.

Her most recent release, After the Rain, finds Thomas exploring a past steeped in blues and gospel, alongside upbeat songs championing women’s independence. “I Count the Tears” resounds with old-school harmonies reminiscent of so many doo-wop songs. “These Honey Dos” bounds through jazzily with piano and bass asserting themselves as mightily as Thomas’ lyrics addressing an unappreciative partner. “Stone Survivor” showcases Thomas in her element, rebuilding and redefining her personal history through sound. The album’s closer, “Shelter In the Rain,” could easily be taken for a hopeful, piano-driven love letter to her hometown in a post-Hurricane Katrina world.

After the Rain reveals the best things about Thomas’ charm as a performer and the powerful voice backing it all — each of its 13 tracks engages listeners with melodies and lyrics that have staying power for days while serving as testament to a great sense of wit and an unstoppable spirit.