Fixing it in the mix is a concept that gets derided quite a bit in this business, mainly because it’s usually thought of as a last refuge for no-talents who can barely stay in key. However, “Rhythm And Blues Siren” Timothea has a growling, smoky backroom/bedroom voice that’s more than capable of doing the job. The problem up until now has been in the sizzle, not the steak: that is, finding a producer who could surround her with the right sonic backdrop for her to do her thing. Although far from perfect, No Nonsense may be the first CD that gives Timothea what she needs.

Of course, having Walter “Wolfman” Washington at the boards doesn’t hurt, especially when he provides propulsive rhythm and tight, jazzy leads on nearly every song (Paul “Li’l Buck” Senegal and George Scott are the guitars-in-waiting, and they do an equally fine job). The rest of the musicians are top-shelf, as well, including two Dopsie family members on accordion and washboard. Most impressive is the cover material, including an orgasmic take on Al Green’s “Love And Happiness” and a sweetly horny version of Earl King’s “Some People.” She closes with a wonderful Sunday-go-to-meetin’ of Blind Faith’s “Presence Of The Lord.”

There are few nice nuggets of hard-won wisdom in the title track (“We’re not Barbie and Ken / We’re real human beings”) but she’s more prone to stuff like “New Orleans Baby’s” “You’re like that Mississippi River / Never know when my liver’s gonna quiver.” Still, Timothea’s finally got an album worthy of her vocal talents, and then some.