Add “J” to the growing list of women musical artists who really like to rock. Her passion for old-school, 70’s-style bluesy numbers is evident throughout this album. “Candy Cigarettes,” to name one of many, sounds like it was gleaned from an old Foghat record. Indeed, such sentiment is furthered with the obligatory guitar cover of Jimi Hendrix’s 1967 classic, “Little Wing.”  

LaSalle Gabriel, who also produced and co-mixed and co-recorded the album, plays lead guitar for the J Project, and provides tough boogie-woogie riffs during “Grown Ass Woman,” and more contemporary sounding leads, like on the band’s charting single, “Delusions of Grandeur.” Beautiful Criminal’s lyrics often relate to the tough choices made by young women trying to get by despite desperate circumstances. On this album anyway, J and Project pass with flying colors.

Favorite Track: Track 2, “Candy Cigarettes”