Tami Neilson Sassafrass!

She's back, the gloves are off and she is coming out swinging. Tami Neilson won't be staying New Zealand's secret for much longer. For the past decade, the Canadian-born, New Zealand-based singer/songwriter has been the queen of her adopted homeland's country and roots music scenes. She has picked up a handful of Best Country Album awards at the New Zealand Music Awards and won the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll for excellence in songwriting. With her new album, Sassafrass!, Neilson takes a giant step forward. On this 11-track knock-out, she places a heavier emphasis on soul music without abandoning her country and rockabilly roots. Neilson conjures up a wonderfully retro style that sounds like it could be a lost gem from the late '50s or early '60s; however, beneath the classic veneer are frank, highly relevant lyrics. Sassafrass, a slang word for a sassy person who isn't afraid to speak her mind, serves as a perfect title for this album. The songs, Neilson divulges, reflect her developing a low tolerance for bullsh*t after years of encountering sexism in her life. They were also influenced by her being a mother of two young boys as well as by the death of her father, who led the family's band, the Neilsons, which was popular in Canada during the '90s. Neilson characterizes her new album as a mouthy lovechild of the current social climate and my own experiences as a woman, mother and daughter.