Christina Crofts – Best of Bottleneck
Christina Crofts is an Australian blues-rock musician who stands out for her virtuosic slide guitar work. The singer and guitarist grew up in Coffs Harbour, a coastal town in New South Wales, and moved to Brisbane at age ten. There she discovers her passion for guitar. Later, she settles in Sydney, where she takes guitar lessons from what eventually becomes her husband, Steve Crofts. Over the years, she has developed a clear and distinctive style of her own. In 2022, she won the Blues Challenge of the Sydney Blues Society with her band. She performs regularly at major blues and roots festivals throughout Australia and is an established name in the blues scene. Meanwhile, her music has reached the top ten of the Australian Blues & Roots Charts and even achieved first place on the AMRAP Regional Chart.
“Best of Bottleneck” is a compilation of her best slide guitar songs from earlier releases. She feels drawn to slide guitar work and wants to bring this side of her music to the forefront. According to Crofts herself, playing with the bottleneck feels powerful and thrilling, and it always draws attention from audiences who approach her after her sets.
The opening track, “Voodoo Queen”, is a raw rocker full of swampy influences. The lyrics were inspired by the story of Julie Brown, a supposed voodoo queen from Louisiana. She allegedly sang eerie songs from her porch that supposedly predicted her own death. Legend has it that on her funeral day, a fierce hurricane tore through the town and killed around 300 people. The song kicks off at the beginning of the album with a strong slide guitar line and Crofts’ powerful voice. The rhythm section is tight and energetic, resulting in a foot-stomping piece that is pure blues rock.
“Breakaway” dates from 2016 and debuted as number one on the AMRAP Air regional charts. It shows that Crofts has consistently made strong music over the years. The driving rhythm and angular guitar work give it an idiosyncratic character that stands out from the crowd. “Midnight Train” is a blues rock boogie that has charted before and is a popular live favourite. It is known as a favourite of blues radio stations and fits seamlessly alongside classic blues rock from top musicians around the world. The song has a timeless quality that shows Crofts knows how to play blues rock in a way that feels both authentic and distinctive.
“Like We Used To” is an upbeat number with a strong guitar riff on top of a swinging rhythm. Crofts’ voice tells the story in a bluesy way that brings to mind artists like Lucinda Williams. It is a pleasant and cheerful song about looking back on the good old days. The melody gets stuck in your head, and the vibe of the song is infectiously positive.
The compilation showcases an artist who has full control over her instrument and her voice. The slide guitar takes centre stage, and this is clearly heard in the tracklist. Crofts knows how to play blues rock with real commitment, and she does this in a way that feels both powerful and personal. This is not music that adapts to trends. This is blues for people who want to hear authentic music from someone who knows what they are doing. 7/10 (Self-released)
