Fire Me Back sits somewhere between soft rock, country-pop, and adult contemporary balladry. At times, it reminded me of the softer side of Bonnie Raitt or even Bette Midler, with a polished, emotional sound that feels ready-made for a movie soundtrack.

It’s not really my thing stylistically, but the album is undeniably professional from start to finish. Everything is clean, controlled, and carefully performed, with Coolidge’s voice at the center. Even when the songs didn’t quite connect with me, there was enough in her delivery to keep me listening.

“Bed of Roses” stood out as one of the stronger ballads, but “Hello Blues” was the real surprise. That track completely clicked. The jazzier phrasing and mood suit her voice perfectly, and honestly, if Rita Coolidge has an album of vocal jazz standards somewhere in her catalog, I’d love to hear it.

While not every song was in my lane, Fire Me Back gave me a better appreciation for Coolidge’s voice and the way she approaches a song. Sometimes one track is enough to make you curious about what else an artist can do.

Verdict: Worth a Spin

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