Ana Popovic - Blind For Love - Eclecto Groove Records 2009

Ana took the reigns on Blind For Love, writing or co-writing all but one of the album's dozen songs. She also holds credits for the song arrangements, and worked as one of the producers, as well. Those fingerprints throughout the CD's work mean it's quite possibly Popovic's most personal work to date. If that's the case, the future is getting even brighter for the Belgrade Bombshell, because Blind For Love is an excellent album.

The disc starts with a shout, as Ana launches into "Nothing Personal," a raucus number about an obsession that may or may not be mutual. From there, Ana's flair for the music gets into you like a virus, and if you're like me, you're dancing in your chair in excess. Popovic speaks for the ladies on "Wrong Woman," putting the "ladies man" in his place. There's some hot organ on the track, too.

Ana slips on the slide for several of Blind For Love's songs, including acoustic work for "Steal Me Away," then she electrifies it for "Putting Out the APB." It's not all rough grooves and heavy music, though. The title track, as well as "The Only Reason," and "Part of Me (Lullaby For Luuk)" (A song written for Ana's baby boy) are all gentle, beautiful tunes that provide a great balance to Popovic's rocking side. "Part of Me" in particular will hit parents in a special place, as they identify with lyrics like "I've been loving you before I knew you. Loving the years to come with you."

Blind For Love took a couple listens for things to "click." It's not that I needed the album to grow on me, but by the third time I sat down with the CD, I was hooked hard. When I'm looking for music, or critiquing an album, the question "Would I buy this CD?" always factors heavily into what I think about it in the end. I would certainly (and did) buy this one.

Standout Tracks: All of Them, Most Notably "Wrong Woman," "Blind For Love," and "Part of Me (Lullaby For Luuk)"

Hear Song Clips and Purchase Tracks From Ana Popovic's Latest Album Blind For Love