Nora Jane Struthers - Nora Jane Struthers

Nora Jane Struthers - Nora Jane Struthers
2010, Blue Pig Music

A born Jersey girl (but nothing like the currently popular caricature), Nora Jane Struthers could yodel before she could talk. Growing up in a house where music was a part of everyday life, Struthers was playing bluegrass music duo with her father by the time she was a teenager. Struthers travelled the East Coast as teen, attending bluegrass festivals and fiddlers conventions, falling in love with traditional music along the way. Now on her own and living in Nashville, Struthers will release her solo debut album, Nora Jane Struthers, on June 22, 2010. Coming on the heels of a top-ten finalist placing at the 2009 Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and 1st placement in the neo-traditional category at the 2009 at the Appalachian String Band Festival, Struthers carries a great deal of momentum into her debut album.

Struthers opens with "Willie", which starts out as if an idyllic love song but turns sour on an unaccepted proposal. The song turns to tragedy quickly, and does so in stark yet poetic terms. "Mockingbird" is a classic story song steeped in allegory, not to mention some of the best instrumental work Nashville has to offer. Struthers is no slouch either; you could imagine her voice coming right out of the Grand Ol' Opry a generation or two ago like she'd been there all along. "Look Out On The Mountain" is a dark tale where a mother reassures a child on the whereabouts of her Daddy, although it's unclear where mama believes a word, and in the end that doubt proves correct. The song is wonderful textured with conflicting emotions and dark undertones.

Struthers details the downfall of the Blue Ridge Mountains in "The Blight". The story is told from the standpoint of someone who played among those trees in her youth; and in spite of any recovery that's been made the Mountains, and the lives of those who live there, will never be the same. With "Evelyn", Struthers tells the story of a hard working man and his former socialite wife back in colonial days. The song is told from the perspective of the man who sees how coming west with him and the hardships they've lived through has drained her of who she once was. It's a somewhat sorrowful yet practical tune, charming in its honesty.

Struthers lets go with a classic cowgirl song in the form of "Cowgirl Yodel #3", sounding like a mix of country and vaudeville in the process. The violin and accordion play here are nothing short of amazing, and the arrangement in general is inspired. "Build You A House" is a proposal in song from a man who has nothing to offer except his name and the work of his hands. He tells her how beautiful she is and how he knows there are others out there who can offer her more, but is brave enough to ask for her hand anyway. Struthers seems to have a talent for writing/selecting these anachronistic love songs that perhaps don't fit today's standard for romance, but were likely the height of it in another era. This is a brilliant tune, and Struthers' reading of it is nothing less.

"One Notch Tighter" sounds like it may have been a depression-era tune, but is perhaps apropos for today as well. It's about doing the things you need to do to get through hard times. The musicianship here is exquisite, and the song is something of an anthem for self-reliance. Struthers closes with "Say Darlin' Say", yet another love song involving a proposal, but this time perhaps from a less desirable sort. It's a pretty tune, particularly once the vocal harmonies kick in; a solid closer.

Nora Jane Struthers brings a classic country voice and a deft touch to the dozen songs presented on Nora Jane Struthers. It's a traditional country album in the strictest terms. You won't hear any of these songs on commercial country radio, but the roots crowd should embrace Struthers with great enthusiasm. The album is highly entertaining, and Struthers herself will charm your socks off with a voice that's pure gold.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Nora Jane Struthers at http://www.norajanestruthers.com/ or www.myspace.com/norajanestruthers. Nora Jane Struthers drops on June 22, 2010. You can preorder the CD from Amazon. Expect wide availability on both CD and as a download.

Review: Carrie Rodriguez - Live In Louisville

Carrie Rodriguez - Live In Louisville
2009 Luz Music/Mood Indigo Entertainment

Carrie Rodriguez garnered quite a reputation as a fiddle player, but the woman can sing like an angel; as we learned when we reviewed She Ain't Me last year. We liked it, and it appears that we weren't along. She Ain't Me peaked at #2 on the Americana charts and #18 on the AAA non-commercial charts in the US. She Ain't Me also garnered Rodriguez a "Songwriter Of The Year Award" in the Folk category from The Roots Music Association. Rodriguez appeared on Austin City Limits in the Fall of 2008 and again in July of 2009. On November 24, 2009 Luz Music in conjunction with Mood Indigo Entertainment will release Live In Louisville, a live performance recorded in April of 2007 while touring with Lucinda Williams. Live In Louisville features Rodriguez at her most elemental and includes two songs that have not appeared on CD previously.

The show opens with Dirty Leather, a dark story song that could be mistaken as a come-on song at first but turns into something entirely different. Rodriguez' dark, sultry alto may mislead listeners on first blush, but that same voice adds gravity to a story of illness and death. The song is amazing and even more powerful live than from the studio. 7 Angels On A Bicycle is a story of love, lost and infidelity wrapped in an arrangement that throws its arms around you and insists you come along for the ride. Rodriguez makes a personal plea on Before You Say Another Word. The instrumentation comes alive around her plaintive vocal; I was honestly blown away by the simple honesty of the song. Rodriguez may have a classic on her hands in I Don't Want To Play House Anymore. Don't be surprised if a generation or two from now this is one of the most covered Country/Roots songs there is. Rodriguez is powerful on the mic with a song that could become anthemic, and the backing band is superlative.

The fiddle comes to the fore on the instrumental Blackberry Blossom; a concert favorite you won't find anywhere else. Names like Allison Krauss and Natalie MacMaster come to mind here. Mask Of Moses makes a powerful statement about deception and trust; a firm Americana arrangement devolves into a jam with jazz structure before returning to it's most simple form. Rodriguez takes on Bill Monroe's You Won't Be Satisfied (That Way), bringing power and sex appeal that Monroe perhaps never imagined in one of many highlights on the album. If there was any question of sex appeal on You Won't Be Satisfied (That Way), 50's French Movie blows any questions right out the window with hurricane force. Rodriguez bulls through the song with the same sultry alto she's had the entire show. From desire to rejection we go with Never Gonna Be Your Bride, a barn-burner that'll have you two-stepping in spite of yourself. Rodriguez says goodnight with St. Peter's, a gorgeous tune that could be about unrequited love or about missing someone who's far away. Either way it's a powerful tune you won't soon forget.

Carrie Rodriguez is a presence on CD, as we learned previously; but on stage she blossoms into a performer the likes of who is not often seen. Not flashy or garish, Rodriguez performs with a humility and grace that belies her talent, seeming to take nothing for granted from the crowd and giving her all on every song. What's most impressive is that all of this is readily apparent even on a live recording on CD. Live In Louisville may just be one of the best live recordings I've heard (and I've heard many, official or otherwise, over the years). If you're a fan of Carrie Rodriguez and don't own it yet, plunk down the cash for Live In Louisville. If you're not familiar with Carrie Rodriguez, you're in for a treat. Start here.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Carrie Rodriguez at http://www.carrierodriguez.com/ or www.myspace.com/carrierodriguez. Live In Louisville goes into national release on November 24, 2009, but if you just can’t wait you can buy it now through Rodriguez’ web store.

Review: Red Rooster - Walk

Red Rooster - Walk

2009, Wondermore Records

Red Rooster is a New York City-based Folk/Country collective that can dazzle you in many ways. Whether it's the blend of Country, Gospel, Bluegrass and Folk styles, the modern electronic elements, or good old fashioned music and lyrics, Red Rooster brings quality to all aspects of their music. Formed ten years ago by longtime friends Jay Erickson (lead vocals) and Nat Zilkha (lead guitar), Red Rooster also features Susannah Hornsby (vox, accordion), Andrew Green (banjo), Dave Gould (saxophone), Brandon Doyle (French horn), Lucas Ives (drums), Daniel Engelman (bass) and Pete Nilsson (keyboards). Susannah Hornsby is the niece of Bruce Hornsby and sister of R.S. Hornsby, and adds an extra dimension and spark. Red Rooster’s third album, Walk, will be released digitally on their website on September 22, 2009. Mixed by Grammy Winner Peter Moshay, Walk promises a lot and delivers on every count.

Walk opens with the Country/Americana gem Bluebird, featuring Jay Erickson on lead vocals with Susannah Hornsby on harmony vocals. Elements of Blues, Country, Folk mix with interesting electronic overlays to create a grand listening experience. Black Point Road has a strong Pop/Americana feel, with strong harmonies and a plaintive banjo that drives the song along. Chasing You is a bit more classic in style, mixing Country and Folk in a love song full of regret and devotion. The arrangement and musicianship here are stellar, with Erickson and Hornsby vocal lines acting the part of just another pair of instruments in a finely tuned ensemble. Hornsby takes over vocal lead on Borrowed Money, one of the more lyrically nuanced tunes on the disc. Hornsby has a sound reminiscent of Allison Krauss, and she gives a strong performance here, injecting a relatively non-demanding vocal line with a lot of angst and panache.

Leaves In Autumn is a poetic love song, drifting back to a subtlety and style more common from 1970's singer/songwriters than today; a gorgeous tune with Erickson on lead and Hornsby on harmony that you won't want to miss. Anyone who's ever held their own child for the first time with want to check out Five Tiny Fingers; it's a song about how a child can calm even the restless heart of the most prodigious drifter. Let It All Go takes the sort of relationship issues traveling musicians might face and puts into a melodramatic setting (to good effect). The song is entertaining and sad, although the premise is so fantastic it's either a bit of a stretch or too ridiculous to be anything but true. Raining In Los Angeles is classic singer-songwriter material; nuanced, complex and mature in its prose and with a simple beauty in the arrangement. The song is about the breakdown of a relationship (likely a marriage) and reflects simple truths from a complicated situation. This is easily my favorite track on the disc and would play equally as well in a coffee house as on a big stage. Time To Go incorporates a light Bluegrass feel into a song about moving on; the mix of Erickson and Hornsby's voices here creates a stark and sorrowful effect that runs counter to the faltering progress of the banjo. Ambivalence is overcome by common sense, but there's still something of a question in the back of the mind of the narrator. Walk closes out with the title track and Susannah Hornsby on lead vocals reaching for a bit of the High Lonesome sound. Hornsby digs in on this one, showing a vocal talent hinted at otherwise and firmly establishing her ability to front a band.

Red Rooster is an interesting mix of Country, Folk, Bluegrass and even some pop sensibility at times. The debate could be endless about whether Jay Erickson or Susannah Hornsby is the better vocalist, but there's no doubt that as a duo they're incredible. Red Rooster is incredibly tight as a band, and Walk is a playground where they show off their best work. Don't be surprised if Walk shows up on a host of end-of-year "Best" lists. Don't wait for the hype; get in on the ground floor.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Red Rooster at http://www.redroostermusic.com/ or on Facebook. You will be able to download Walk on Red Rooster’s website on or after September 22, 2009. Red Rooster is offering a you-name-your-price deal that will net you a digital package that includes the album as well as bonus tracks. Traditional CD copies will also be available at some point in the near future.

Review: Deadwood Revival - Deadwood Revival Sat 730

Deadwood Revival - Deadwood Revival Sat 730
2009, Deadwood Revival

The state of Washington might be the home to the next great Jam Band. The Deadwood Revival brings their brand of "hillbilly jamgrass" wherever they grow across the northwest US, winning new fans at every stop along the way. Inspired by Jerry Garcia, Deadwood Revival hits a musical state that equals or exceeds The Grateful Dead at the height of their musical powers with discreet moments of instrumental genius and vocal harmonies that are heavenly. Vocalist Trenerry, in particular has a distinctive sound that crosses Kitty Wells with Allison Krauss and makes for an extremely pleasurable listen. Deadwood Revivals' newest CD, a live recording called Deadwood Revival Sat 730 captures the spirit and spit of their live shows while showcasing what may be one of the elite bands in the folk/country divide.

Deadwood Revival Sat 730 opens with Ain't The Buyin' Kind, a song about someone who is more into roaming than settling down. The instrumentation and vocal harmonies are dead on in a delicious blend of bluegrass and folk that will get your feet moving. Red Rocking Chair and Sugar Hill are traditional tunes given the DwR touch. Red Rocking Chair is great back porch music, and Sugar Hill is a rambunctious tune featuring the vicious fiddle work of Julie Campbell. Up next is a cover of Johnny Cash's Big River. The crowd gets really into this one, particularly the jam. DwR sounds inspired here.

Glendale Train may be the musical height of the disc, with the musicianship reaching near-perfection and a tremendous mix on the vocal harmonies. Campbell in particular should be memorialized for this performance. Guitar/Banjo player Jason Mogi chips in four original compositions, highlighted by When I'm Gone. This is one of those songs you'll find yourself singing along to the first time you hear it, and Mogi's guitar work will have the guitar players out there trying to figure out the tabs for the rest of the night. Grateful Dead fans will get excited about the Hunter and Garcia song China Cat Sunflower, which is reverent to the original in both form and spirit, but the highlight of the disc is Trenerry's Mattie's Jam/Shake The Barnhouse Down. Get ready for 11 1/2 minutes of musical bliss! Cover My Tracks and Daisy are fun listens, and don't overlook the band's take on Cotton Eyed Joe; one of the best I've heard.

Deadwood Revival is the sort of band that connects with listeners almost instantly (even through recorded media). The musical trip is there for the taking, all you have to do is let go. Deadwood Revival Sat 7:30 is an exquisite recording you'd be happy for on a road trip. Fans of bluegrass, country, folk and 1960's psychedelia will all find something here. Check it out.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Deadwood Revival at http://www.deadwoodrevival.com/. You can purchase Deadwood Revival Sat 730 on CD through www.cdbaby.com/cd/deadwoodrevival3.

Review: Lori Diamond - Mystery

Lori Diamond - Mystery
2008, Lorisongs

Lori Diamond and collaborator Fred Abatelli discovered each other through MySpace. Diamond was part of Neuphoria, a three-part harmony group performing both covers and original material, while Abatelli was lending his musical weight to a band called Too Many Drivers. With influences as disparate as Liz Story, Carole King, Billy Joel, Allison Krauss, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Chaka Khan, there would be no in-between for these star-crossed musicians; it would be either a glorious mix or a disaster. Luckily the disaster teams were never engaged, as Diamond and Abatelli clicked from the get-go. Diamond's debut CD with Abatelli, Mystery, is bound to draw a slew of listeners to Lori Diamond. High profile gigs such as New York City's Mamapalooza should do a great deal to expand Diamond's fan base. Either way, it's time to catch on to a talent too large to be confined to the Berkshires.

Diamond's voice is silky and soulful on Mystery; part Norah Jones and part Sarah McLachlan. Opening with the title track, Mystery, Diamond treats listeners to gorgeous vocal harmonies over a piano-driven arrangement encompassing Soul, Pop and Folk. Sorry is classic singer/songwriter fare; a love song of regret. The pacing here is a bit slow but the melody and harmonies are so pretty you probably won't notice. Diamond opens up the tear jar on The Way You Look At Me. This song is a true Wow moment, following the look of love throughout life as it is seen father to daughter, mother to child and husband to wife. Alone serves as something of a musical interlude after the powerful emotions of The Way You Look At Me, offering a pleasant, melancholy jazz arrangement to get you back on your feet.

Don't Cry has a strong theatrical feel to it, like it could have walked right off a Broadway stage. The song follows the comfort as given from mother to child and how it echoes through our lives, all done in a great Jazz/Pop/Broadway arrangement. Better is another wow moment; a soliloquy from someone who wants to be loved yet doesn't feel deserving and flees in the face of all they've dreamed of. Anyone who's ever felt undeserving of another's affection or love will see something of themselves in this song. A Friend Like This continues the big emotional hits from Diamond in a song about friendship that transcends love. Diamond closes out with Patient, a song of utter devotion based on the "If you love something set it free" philosophy.

Lori Diamond has a voice you could listen to all day; She could sing the Waste Removal listings from the yellow pages and people would still line up to listen. The material on Mystery is loaded with emotion and honesty, but wrapped in melodies and harmonies so lovely even the most emotionally stunted listener won't feel overwhelmed. The lyrics are intelligent and artfully written, the arrangements are first class and the musicianship through Mystery is top notch. Mystery is an experience, and Diamond is aptly named.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Lori Diamond at http://www.loridiamond.net/ or www.myspace.com/loridiamond. You can learn more about Fred Abatelli at www.myspace.com/fredabatelli. You can purchase a copy of Mystery at www.cdbaby.com/cd/loridiamond or download the album through iTunes.

Review: Megan Munroe - One More Broken String

Megan Munroe - One More Broken String
2008, Diamond Music Group

Megan Munroe grew up in the foothills of Washington's Cascade Mountains. Raised according to a get-back-to-basics philosophy, Munroe grew up essentially without the influence of television. This idyllic lifestyle allowed Munroe to develop her imagination and creative abilities in ways that bypass many raised in a "plugged-in" culture. It's ironic then that her first foray into the public eye was on television. At the age of seventeen she moved to L.A. to pursue a career in acting. Munroe thrived, appearing in three films and co-starring on two episodes of the WB's Everwood within a space of three years. By the age of twenty Munroe had tired of the narcissistic culture of Hollywood and return home to Washington to focus on music (while commuting to LA on weekends of acting gigs). Munroe is based in Nashville these days, where's she's preparing for the release of her second CD, One More Broken String, due on February 10, 2009. In the mean time she continues to act, model, writing, work on a novel and train for a 5K.

Just twenty-five years old, Munroe shows the grace, confidence and polish of a seasoned performer. Co-writing most of the material for One More Broken String with longtime collaborator Brian Oaks, Munroe explores the basics of life, love, happiness, and the consequences when one or all go wrong. Munroe opens with Angel On My Shoulder (Devil On My Back), a raucous country rocker that explores the struggle to stay on the right path between the power of grace and the draw of temptation. Munroe sings her heart out on this one and it is a likely single (or should be). Munroe's voice is honey and steel, in turns, with lots of heat and grit thrown in. She can tear the roof off one moment and turn vulnerability into an art form with her next breath.

Nothing Is Easy Anymore is a prime example of the latter, a quiet and introspective ballad that is strikingly honest with a highly memorable melody. The arrangement is a classic country one with pedal steel and compact, sorrowful sounds. Moonshine is a pop rocker with country instrumentation. Munroe gets to engage in a vocally gymnastic pounce flowing out of sultry stalking the chorus. Moonshine could be the sort of song that gets tied to an artist; it shows all of Munroe's most desirable vocal qualities along with her ability to take a performance completely over the top. It's bombast, country style, and it works.

Never one to stay still, Munroe moves on to Pennies In The Ocean, a paean to chasing the golden bail, juxtaposing the heights of success with the solitary songwriter, alone with a guitar under a nondescript sky. It's a musical reality check for all who've tasted success or at least chased it, and bound to be one of the most thoughtful and poignant songs of 2009. The metronome swings quickly with Munroe, and before you even done considering the implications of Pennies In The Ocean she's launched into the delicious spite and vitriol of Leavin' Memphis. The tale of dealing with a straying husband is incredibly rich and textured, like a short story in a song. It frankly makes "Before He Cheats" sound second rate. This is top-ten country chart material if it's released as a single (and a probable #1).

Angel On Fire finds Munroe getting down to a bluegrass sound reminiscent of Allison Krauss (and in the right part of her range Munroe sounds more than a little like Krauss). Good Fight is country with an urban, almost R&B feel to it. Munroe lets the glints of steel in her voice shine through here, projecting a toughness that is tempered by intelligence. On Shameless Fool Munroe finds her vulnerable self and puts it out on her sleeve. Some of the sweeter qualities of her voice come through in a performance that also has top-ten country song written all over it (this one is probably even more likely to be a #1 than Leavin' Memphis).

Perfect Storm is a pop song born of a waltz. Munroe goes for sweetness here in a country ballad that is fairly generic for country radio but still a pleasant listen. Belle Meade is one of those rare moments where artistry and craft combine to rise above the bar of mere performance. Munroe inhabits this song like it’s her life story. The song itself isn't my favorite on the album, but Munroe wears it like her own skin and makes it more than it could ever be otherwise. It's a Sinatra moment, of sorts. Speechless is another example of Munroe's ability to take a song and make it into something special. The difference that Speechless itself is a special song, yet Munroe still finds a way to inhabit it and bring it to life. The gritty powerhouse has thoroughly melted away here and Munroe sings straight from her heart in what may be the most potentially explosive commercial song on the album. The set officially closes with Lonely Tonight, a sweet and regretful song that sounds standard country issue. Cliché perhaps, but Munroe still manages to lift the song beyond its moorings. In a pleasant surprise, Munroe has hidden an encore at the end of the album. "What I Am" is a wonderful exploration of the dual nature of humanity; the sinner/saint in each person, and how this can contrast with the expectations of those we love. Munroe speaks more truth about the human condition in three plus minutes than many pop artists speak in entire careers.

One thing is abundantly clear. Megan Munroe is ready for Nashville and ready for the world. Munroe brings all the tools of an A-list performer on One More Broken String and uses them all too full effect. One More Broken String will put Munroe on the map in a way she hasn't been before, and for all that is likely only just the start. Her songwriting partnership with Brian Oaks would appear to be a special one. Oaks may just be Munroe's Bernie Taupin, and this could be the beginning of one long, wildly successful ride for a daydreamer from Sultan. In the mean time, One More Broken String is a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc, an absolute pleasure, and an early favorite for breakout album of the year.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Megan Munroe at http://www.meganmunroe.com/ or www.myspace.com/meganmunroe. You can purchase a copy of One More Broken String at www.cdbaby.com/cd/meganmunroe2.