Rachel Epp - Rosary

Rachel Epp – Rosary
2010, Rachel Epp

Rachel Epp grew up a farm girl, with the seeds of country and folk music sewn into her musical soul.  Artists such as Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Patty Griffin and Kathleen Edwards taught her what great songwriting is, and Epps applied these influences into the making of her own style.  The result is compelling; a storytelling style of song craft that is deeply personal and full of a vibrant intensity that never weighs too heavily on the listen.  Rachel Epp’s sophomore effort, Rosary, builds on her ability to use words to paint pictures that nearly come alive.

Epp kicks things off with “Ghost in the Graveyard”, an ode to young love full of summer nights and endless dreams.  With a radio-ready chorus and a sweet, instantly likeable voice, Epp makes a great first impression.  “East of the River” explores the dichotomy of being comfortable with one person but wanting more.  The demarcation here is New York’s East River, and the two sides are different worlds with different realities.  Epp brings out the beauty of where she wants to be and the indecision that accompanies it in a lush arrangement that wraps around you and pulls you into the story.  “Virginia” has a more plaintive feel, an ode to the transient feel of home once you’ve found a life elsewhere.  The full acoustic-electric arrangement is comfortable even as it explores emotional nooks and crannies that are often less so.

“Beautiful Like This” is full of melancholy memories of happy moments, and an awareness that tomorrow’s memories might be much the same.  It’s a beautiful reminiscence of now, full of an understanding that life is fleeting and memory, in the end, is all we are left with.  Rachel Epp writes much deeper than you might first assume, and that is never clearer than in this moment.  Rosary bows with “Wasted”, a country-tinged number that shows off Epp’s voice in its lonely beauty.  The straight-forward singer/songwriter style is enhanced by Epp’s flowing melancholy and darkly sweet arrangements.

Rachel Epp mesmerizes with doses of beauty and melancholy on Rosary.  Epp surprises you; wrapping you up in her stories with a voice that lulls and a sense of imagery that is sublime.  Rosary is not to be missed.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more at www.rachelepp.com. 

Lynn Miles - Fall For Beauty

Lynn Miles - Fall For Beauty

2011, True North Records

Lynn Miles is one of the most accomplished Americana (or Canadiana, if you will) singer/songwriters in Canada.  Taking the time to build herself as an artist, Miles spent time in Los Angeles and Nashville before returning home to Ottawa, but in the process picked up several Canadian Folk Music Awards and a Juno Award.  Miles’ latest album, Fall For Beauty, appears on track to be her most commercially successful to date.

Fall For Beauty opens with "Something Beautiful", a song that explores humanity's yen for seeking the beautiful and sublime amongst the everyday struggles of life.  The song offers a poignant, mature perspective in a sharp folk/rock arrangement with more than a little pop sensibility.  Miles has a wonderfully mature voice that's part Sheryl Crow, part Bonnie Raitt and part Lynn Anderson.  "Fearless Heart" features a melody that climbs inside of your head and refuses to leave, amidst a dynamic country/rock arrangement that's the perfect complement.    It's the story of someone who wishes she could grab hold of life and ride free but is caught up in her own fears.  It's a brilliant aural portrait of someone caught in-between, and the vocal harmonies are angelic. 

"I Will" is a musical monologue from someone who has lost faith in herself, life and humanity, but sees the need to get back to where she's been.  It's a song of determination and hope that carries the seeds of recovery from heartbreak and disillusion.  The gentle urgency here is compelling.  "Three Chords And The Truth" is a portrait of the artist as a young girl; an ode to taking on the world the only way she knows how: growing up and finding herself through writing and performing songs.  "Cracked And Broken" is a mournful tune detailing her broken heart at the hands of someone she loved deeply.  It's essentially an acknowledgement that she fell in love with the wrong person.  There's a tragic beauty to this tune, but something seems to be missing at the same time. 

"Little Bird" is a song of encouragement for someone who perhaps grew up with little.  It's a sweet number that may touch some chords out there.  "Love Doesn't Hurt" strays into the world of domestic violence, and may be the natural progression from "Little Bird".  The tale told here is simple and straight forward, all the more compelling for the lack of varnish or commentary.  "Save Me" is a mildly catchy number with an Orbison-esque guitar style.  It's an acknowledgment of wanting someone who is bad for and of being her own worst enemy.  Jim Bryson (Punchbuggy, Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Harmer, The Weakerthans) joins Miles for "Goodbye", a song of parting about the mutual realization that things aren't working out.   Miles and Bryson's voices are a unique blend that works very well.  Fall For Beauty closes with "Time To Let The Sun", a sweet and positive lullaby done in a classic MGM movie musical style.  This one obviously stands out stylistically, but is surprisingly good even for being a musical anomaly.

Lynn Miles writes with depth and insight, singing from the veldt that lays somewhere between heart and soul, but is of both and neither all at once.  Fall For Beauty is a mature and intellectually resounding work, more of a song cycle about the human condition than simply a collection of songs.  Miles also has a talent for crafting arrangements for her material that work perfectly hand in hand with the depth of her lyrics.  This is not an album you put down easily, even if gets a bit uneven at times in the middle.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Lynn Miles at http://www.lynnmilesmusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/lynnmilesmusic. Fall For Beauty is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.