Mary Coughlan - Red Blues -2002- -

: A soulful interpretation of the Bobby "Blue" Bland classic.

| Album | Year | Key Trait | |-------|------|------------| | Tired and Emotional | 1985 | Debut, raw, punk-jazz energy | | Under the Influence | 1987 | More polished, covers & originals | | Indiscreet | 1990 | Her most commercially accessible | | Sentimental Killer | 1992 | Dark, electric, experimental | | Stolen Bird | 1997 | Folkier, introspective | | | 2002 | Mature, stripped-back torch blues |

, an artist often hailed as Ireland's answer to Billie Holiday . Her album arrived nearly two decades after her explosive 1985 debut Tired and Emotional Mary Coughlan - Red Blues -2002-

Musically, "Red Blues" draws from a range of influences, including traditional Irish music, blues, and jazz. Coughlan's voice, with its distinctive timbre and phrasing, is reminiscent of jazz greats like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Her delivery is characterized by a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, as if she's sharing secrets with the listener.

The album features a mix of blues standards and contemporary covers, including: : A soulful interpretation of the Bobby "Blue" Bland classic

Known for intense, intimate live performances, she remains a powerful force in the Irish music scene.

The album's most surprising stylistic detour. Coughlan takes Grace Jones’ 1981 new wave/disco club hit and strips it down into a raw, acoustic funk groove, proving her unique ability to cross genre boundaries seamlessly. Coughlan's voice, with its distinctive timbre and phrasing,

Produced by and recorded by Rolf Kirschbaum for the label Tradition & Moderne , the album is characterized as a mix of Blues Rock , Country Rock , and Classic Rock . Critics have noted that Coughlan transports familiar classics into more "sympathetic and intimate environments". Tracklist

A wry, storytelling track that acts as a showcase for Coughlan’s theatrical flair and sharp observations regarding gender roles and domestic life.

The album's title, "Red Blues," refers to the dual nature of Coughlan's emotions, oscillating between the fiery passion of red and the melancholic introspection of blues. This dichotomy is reflected in the album's songs, which explore themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth.