Review: Melissa Etheridge 'One Way Out'

Photo: Melissa Etheridge by Lauren Dukoff

By Mike O’Cull

Singer, songwriter, Grammy winner, and multi-platinum star Melissa Etheridge blesses her legion of loyal fans with another set of outstanding songs on her new album One Way Out. Set to drop September 17th, 2021 via BMG, the record contains nine songs Etheridge wrote during the late 1980s and early 1990s that never made it onto one of her albums for one reason or another. They were forgotten about until Melissa happened upon her old demos of them while digging for material for a retrospective boxed set for a previous label. She tracked them back in 2013 with her original band members Fritz Lewak, John Shanks, and Kevin McCormick at Henson Studios in Los Angeles. The four musicians instantly found their old fire and were able to capture the thrilling performances now being released. One Way Out also includes two songs that were recorded at the Roxy in Los Angeles in 2002, which makes it even cooler.

Melissa Etheridge first introduced herself to the world with a self-titled debut record that became a sensation in 1988. It topped out at Number 22 on the Billboard charts and the single “Bring Me Some Water” earned Etheridge her first Grammy nomination. Since those early days, she has created a substantial body of work built on her style of confessional, singer-songwriter rock and roll that has made her a major star. Her breakout album, 1993’s Yes I Am, reached Number 15 on Billboard and sold more than six million copies on the strength of the singles “I’m The Only One” and “Come To My Window.” She’s one of the finest and most passionate songwriters of the past 40 years. Her vocals equal the power of her lyrics and she has the rare gift of being able to touch listeners’ hearts directly, often with a single line.

Etheridge kicks the album off with its tough, blues/rock title track “One Way Out.” It’s an absolute burner of a song that surrounds her vocal talents with overdriven guitar, wailing harmonica, and a bumping rhythm section. Etheridge has always excelled in this kind of rock band context and hearing her sing this one is an instant ticket back to the early days of her career. Her vocal presence is unmatchable and she reels you farther in with every word. “As Cool As You Try” is more edgy blues/rock, this time with a mid-tempo feel that’s expansive and full of soul.

Watch “One Way Out”

“I’m No Angel Myself” is an entrancing ballad with a backbone that seems to be a plea to someone bent on self-destruction to come back from the ledge. Etheridge speaks her piece at the tempo of a fast heartbeat that allows the empathy in her lyrics to come to the forefront. She sings like a friend whispering what needs to be said right into your ear in a crowded bar. Etheridge has always been a singer who can bring it on a softer song like this just as well as she can on more rocking material and her emotion here is undeniable.

The live tracks from the Roxy are a big-time treat and let us hear Melissa fully immersed in her element onstage. “You Have No Idea” is pure, small-band rock and roll bliss. The entire group gets the landing gear up and soars, making the joy in Etheridge’s performance much more than obvious. “Life Goes On” is more of the same wonderful thing. It’s a song about remembering the old days as they were and how much living had happened since then. The crowd hangs on every note and word and makes it one of those magic rock moments that you have to be present for to truly appreciate. You can almost hear the bond between Melissa and her fans.

Melissa Etheridge has always been a top-level artist and One Way Out is just more proof of that fact. Getting to experience these tunes after all this time is reason enough to celebrate and to remember how much greatness is out there waiting to be heard from the artists we love. Sleep on this set at your own risk. Highly recommended.