A brisk song with tempo and lyrical substance, "Trouble With Angels" is one of only two songs on this 11th studio release from
Mattea that isn't a ballad. Written and recorded during a time when she was facing the declining health of her father, much of the music on The Innocent Years is about the tender mercies of life: love, family relationships, faith in God, perseverance, commitment, and growing old. Most notably poignant is "That's the Deal," a tribute to her father and the health struggles he's recently faced. The album gets high marks for vocal collaborations with the likes of
Suzy Bogguss,
Alison Krauss, and pop singer
Graham Nash. And the album's bonus track, "BFD," a crowd favorite in her live shows, ends the album on a playful note. ~ Maria Konicki Dinoia, All Music Guide
