I was sent Martha's Redbone's debut album Home of the Brave, and was delighted from opening track to finish. Simple, in the pocket grooves create the solid dance beat that defines the sound of Martha Redbone. Her lyrics are well thought out, often humorous and are interwoven into perfectly crafted melodies that suit her poetry.

Martha's vocals have every attribute made popular by soul/funk greats like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, and Prince, phrasing and bending her powerful voice with super-human control. Martha's influences couldn't be any closer to the roots of funk; she was mentored by legendary musician, Walter 'Junie' Morrison, who was an original member of the Ohio Players and later, Parliament Funkadelic. Martha also sang backup vocals on the Mothership reunion album with George Clinton.

Home of the Brave is an exceptionally well-produced and not over-produced CD that highlights Martha's songwriting, poetry and incredible use of her vocals. The thirteen listed tracks are all radio-ready, spanning the spectrum of funk, soul and diva-pop, perfect for dance mixes with lyrical content that will quell the harshest critics. After I listened to the CD, I'm glad I didn't eject it right away: After nearly two minutes of silence, there was a final, hidden track. An impromptu, under-produced jam displaying the raw talent of Redbone and her accompanying musicians.

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