• Features
  • Reviews
  • New Music
  • Interviews
  • Polls
  • About
  • Search
Menu

Albumism

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Celebrating our love affairs with albums past, present and future

Albumism

  • Features
  • Reviews
  • New Music
  • Interviews
  • Polls
  • About
  • Search

ALBUM REVIEW: Bettye LaVette Reimagines Bob Dylan’s Songs on Enthralling ‘Things Have Changed’

April 12, 2018 Sonya Alexander

Bettye LaVette
Things Have Changed
Verve
Buy: Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Listen Below

Bettye LaVette has been called a "singer's singer," which means she interprets songs according to her inner compass and her ability to guesstimate the temperature of her audience. Her gravelly, aching voice makes every song personal, yet relatable. With her latest album Things Have Changed, she hits another one out of the soul ballpark by covering notable songs from the legendary Bob Dylan's hearty catalog.

The opening blistering beats of the title track "Things Have Changed” sound like ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down." It's brazen, brass and self-assured. Dylan's voice is always a little bit behind the beat, a little off-kilter, which is a great fit for his outlook on society and life. LaVette's voice tackles every note like it's a warm cocktail or tumultuous love-affair. With her sandpaper-meets-silk voice, she turns every song, even the gentlest of ballads, into a fight for survival.

Two of the deepest and most steeped-in-soul takes on the album are "Political World" with Keith Richards and "What Was It You Wanted" with Trombone Shorty. The former has a bit of a WAR like groove and the latter is a stone-cold jam, with Curtis Mayfield-ish rhythms. 

Ms. LaVette's voice is a soulful voice on steroids. She delivers all twelve tracks with the conviction of living and the gratitude of seeing each day. They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. That certainly holds true for Bettye LaVette's one-of-a-kind fierce vocals.

Notable Tracks: “Mama You Been On My Mind” | “Political World” | “What Was It You Wanted”

LISTEN:

Tags Bettye LaVette
← En Vogue’s Vibrant ‘Electric Café’ Crackles with Soul | Album ReviewALBUM REVIEW: Czarface & MF DOOM Deliver Dream-Team Collaboration ‘Czarface Meets Metal Face’ →

Featured
Minnie Riperton’s ‘Adventures In Paradise’ Turns 50 | Album Anniversary
Minnie Riperton’s ‘Adventures In Paradise’ Turns 50 | Album Anniversary
Common’s ‘Be’ Turns 20 | Album Anniversary
Common’s ‘Be’ Turns 20 | Album Anniversary
Lucy Pearl’s Eponymous Debut Album ‘Lucy Pearl’ Turns 25 | Album Anniversary
Lucy Pearl’s Eponymous Debut Album ‘Lucy Pearl’ Turns 25 | Album Anniversary

©2025 Albumism | All Rights Reserved. Use of any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. The content on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Albumism.