by Alex Henderson
Still Bad demonstrated that at 54, Denise LaSalle was still very much on top of her game. As its title indicates, the veteran soul and blues singer hadn't mellowed with age--those who love to hear LaSalle taking a sassy, in-your-face approach won't be disappointed by trash-talking numbers like &1-900-GET-SOME,& &Right Side of the Wrong Bed& or &The Bitch Is Bad.& But true to form, LaSalle has no problem turning around and showing a more sensitive side of herself on &Child of the Ghetto,& an inspiring, poignant ballad describing a poor woman's determination to improve her life. LaSalle's Malaco output of the 1980s and 1990s was quite consistent, and with Still Bad, the singer once again excels by sticking with what she does best.