Album Review: Rhiannon Giddens, Tomorrow Is My Turn

Rhiannon Giddens is my new musical obsession. The Carolina Chocolate Drops singer, violinist and banjo player has released her debut solo album and knocks it out of the park! Tomorrow Is My Turn is a dynamic mixture of folk, blues, and even some jazz, but this album 100% shows off Giddens incredible voice, range and rhythm. Plus, this album was produced by T Bone Burnett who signed her on the spot after hearing her for the first time, so you know she is legit.

Giddens style is like an intoxicating mixture between Patsy Cline and Nina Simone. In fact, Giddens’ rendition of Patsy Cline’s, “She’s Got You”, is by far my most favorite song off this album. Another one of my favorites is the title track, “Tomorrow Is My Turn” which was one of Nina Simone’s most famous songs. The song was originally the theme to a 1963 film about French prisoners of war during WWII which accounts for the wonderfully vintage jazz spin Giddens bring to the song.

Many of the tracks are renditions of songs from the past, but I think that is really what I loved about this album. She does not cover the songs, she makes them her own. You get to hear songs you love for the first time again from the voice of an incredible artist and musician.  

This album will truly delight all folk music lovers, but this album will also enchant people who love musicians that makes them feel the music. That is exactly what Giddens delivers. When she sings “She’s Got You”, your heart breaks for her and you can visualize what she is going through in her lyrics.