Every time Melissa Etheridge visited her label Island Records, fewer people were employed than the time before. She felt that the record company could be of less and less service to her and gave up in 2013. After more than twenty-five years of service, she became her own boss. It was immediately time for the big cleaning, because her management was also dismissed. This Is ME (2014) marks the new
… beginning and is a message to her fans that the real Melissa Etheridge has remained the same despite everything. The album title with a nod to her own name says enough. And 'just being yourself' means with Etheridge that her characteristic voice - pinched and with a nice raw edge - predominates. There is more room for innovation in the musical interpretation. Her daughter once suggested listening to The Lumineers and so we are invited to many songs to clap, stamp and sing along. A pleasant start to a new period in Etheridge's career. (JE)more
