Christina Gaudet Releases “Manhattan Oz: A Gotham Odyssey”

Blues rocker extraordinaire Christina Gaudet takes the listener to a New York state-of-mind and then some in the jumping, riveting album Manhattan Oz: A Gotham Odyssey. A dizzying spell of blues riffs, fashionable percussion and Gaudet’s blistering yet smooth vocal delivery, Manhattan Oz: A Gotham Odyssey is an incredible mix of rock, blues, a dash of Americana and all that makes music so worthwhile. From the opener “New York City” to the inspiring “Living It Till I Die” to the closer, “New Renaissance” Gaudet drills a stake in the ground that she is one of music’s most eclectic and powerful female voices. No matter the genre, no matter the song, Gaudet has the listener transported to a whole new level of musicality in these awesome 10 tracks. 

URL: https://www.christinagaudet.com/

In “New York City” Gaudet quickly establishes the pallet from which her sound expands from. In many ways this is the song that also starts out the story – it sets the scene. While Manhattan Oz is not labeled a concept album, there is a definite theme and perhaps stream of conscience that Gaudet deploys. Already in this song you hear the grit in her voice, the way it bounces and deflects from a piercing, outrageous guitar lick. From there, “Breathe Fierce Love” showers the listener with Gaudet’s empowerment and ultra-confidence. You can hear that want, that desire in her voice. She has a bit of a chip on her shoulder, but it’s what makes her art so much more exciting to listen to. 

“Transend Time” opens with a killer riff and once again a chilling wave of harmonies. I loved the piano in “Living It Till I Die”, just beneath the haunting vocal melodies. As the songs stack up, so does the chance slip more and more into this intriguing spell – “Tested By Dragons”, with an audacious title to match, has this cool guitar jaunt. From there it’s “Immigrants” and the sensational “Black Bayou”. Gaudet doesn’t give the listeners even a moment to rest on their laurels – “Hold Out For Love” and “Lessons Of The Water” peel back even more to her artistry and showcase her lyrical vulnerability. Finally, “New Renaissance” captures a feeling, a tone that sets its sights on being both the ending of an album but also marks the beginning of a new life journey. That’s the thing about these songs – they represent a journey in the fast moving, sometimes harsh city of New York (also known as Gotham). You get it all – the flashy, the murky and even the joy. Gaudet is at the top of her game in Manhattan Oz.

PRE-ORDER: https://christinagaudet.hearnow.com/manhattan-oz

Gaudet is originally from the Cajun lands in New Orleans. The album features John Zych, Eric Johnson, Nathan Stevens, David Rockower, George Varghese, Trevor Sewell and EJ Ouelette. Manhattan Oz: A Gotham Odyssey is Gaudet’s 10^th solo album release. Among her impressive resume is a collaboration with the late (and legendary) Allen Toussaint, Randy Newman and more. Bringing the Big Easy to the Big Apple isn’t an easy task – but Gaudet delivers a satisfying, wonderous sonic journey. 

Nicole Killian