Swap a CD: 15 Recently Posted CDs

The Age of Possibility - Carrie Newcomer

Carrie Newcomer — 2009-11-11T16:18:38-05:00

"This was written for someone I love in pretty tough circumstances," Carrie Newcomer writes as an introduction to the final song on her sixth studio album, but the description could refer to most of the songs here on which she displays a determined optimism that acknowledges the grittier side of life. Singing in her throaty, resonant alto over folk-rock tracks, she suggests the travails of love and life but always comes out on the side of carrying on and trying again. "When It's Gone It's Gone" may lament the loss of everything from railroads to cheap gas, but it also celebrates a kind of spiritual continuity, while "Tornado Alley" uses the risk of living in a storm-threatened area as a metaphor for life in general. Such songs display a craftsmanlike quality to Newcomer's writing, but they are somewhat impersonal, generalizing their points in a way that blunts the message. Over and over, Newcomer seems to have been inspired by some real-life incident that never gets into the song, which ends up being a procession of abstractions, clichÉd images, and platitudes. She works up some anger in "It's Not OK," for example, but what is it she's talking about exactly? Even that final song dedicated to the person in tough circumstances is called "This Too Will Pass," which may be comforting to him or her, but is trite and derivative to the listener. Newcomer is much better in "Just Like Downtown," an autobiographical account of growing up in the Midwest, but even here she quickly switches from the specific to general statements. As such, her songs come off as the residue of experiences that are not themselves described. It's possible that listeners may respond to such songs if they can fill the gap, imagining for themselves what it is that's not OK, or what needs to pass, by conjuring up their own experiences. But that's asking a lot. Newcomer would do well to fill in more of the details in her songs if she wants her meanings to bear weight. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Share My Song - Melanie DeMore

Melanie DeMore — 2009-11-07T18:17:09-05:00

Still Riot 1996 - Ferron

Ferron — 2009-11-01T20:23:54-05:00

On her ninth album (her fifth of the 1990s), Ferron continued to explore life's detail with a sort of desperate hopefulness, repeating over and over on the title track, "There is a way through constant sorrow," and seeking that way while acknowledging that sorrow in the rest of the songs. (Even "Dazzle The Beast," nominally a Christmas song, was downbeat.) As usual, she employed an unflinching honesty to work her way through to insight, noting in "Venus As Appearances," for example, "I wasted nights with dreams of kisses so hot / 'Course the ending was same as if I'd gone without her." Musically, she continued to develop dense arrangements that went well beyond her talkie beginnings. If anything, however, the arrangements were too dense to be really moving, even as the lyrics sometimes were too involved to be really involving. This was heard best in the new recording of "Ain't Life A Brook" (copyright 1978), perhaps her best song, which was more impressive in its earlier renditions with only an acoustic guitar than it was here. All of which is to say that instead of being as stunning as her records usually are, Still Riot was merely impressive. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Sacred Ground - Sweet Honey in the Rock

Sweet Honey in the Rock — 2009-10-28T20:26:03-05:00

Rooted in spiritual music and steeped in African-American tradition without being preachy or heavy-handed, Sacred Ground pulls from the various faiths and life experiences of the women of Sweet Honey in the Rock. Their differences are reflected in their voices, writing, and inspirations and they create the greatness of this ensemble, exemplifying their belief that perfect harmony and unity can be borne out of diversity. Bernice Johnson Reagon sets the pace here as the main songwriter and longest continual member of the group. Her poetry can't help but offer cause for contemplation of our own lives, the lives of others, and the lives of our ancestors. Regardless of your ethnicity or faith, the African-American spirituals "No More Auction Block," "Balm in Gilead," and "Jordan River" sink into your core and make you think, make you feel. Ysaye Barnwell contributes "Would You Harbor Me," "Prayer," and "We Are," three songs that all but beg us to love one another as we love ourselves, despite the differences between us. One of the simplest and sweetest melodies comes from Carol Maillard in "Prayer to the One," which makes the point that God or Spirit is with us everywhere at every moment, indeed closer than our very breath. The journey these women, these voices, and these songs take you on is incredible, and leads you through many lands and times in search of the sacred, only to discover that everything and everyone that exists is sacred. ~ Kelly McCartney, All Music Guide

Octoroon - Laura Love

Laura Love — 2009-10-23T19:39:23-05:00

Hailing from the Northwest, Laura Love had made a name for herself on the coffeehouse and folk festival circuit by the time she released Octoroon, her major label debut, in 1997. Following several independently released efforts that garnered critical acclaim, Octoroon is a mesmerizing mix of styles that incorporate folk, world and traditional pop melodies and instrumentation. Love's vocals can be a bit harsh at moments, but they grow upon the listener and it is difficult not to be impressed with the elasticity of her delivery. "Bad Feeling" is percussive pop with horns and accordion giving it a slightly funky feel (aided by the inclusion of a bit of Sly Stone's "Everyday People"). "Capricorn & Hominy" incorporates chanting background vocals and fiddle to good effect. She stretches a bit too far on an ill-advised cover of Nirvana's "Come As You Are," but redeems herself with a spirited run-through of "Amazing Grace" and the closing acapella "Blind Bartimus." ~ Tom Demalon, All Music Guide

Sacred Ground - Sweet Honey in the Rock

Sweet Honey in the Rock — 2009-10-23T16:06:47-05:00

Shape Shifters - Ubaka Hill

Ubaka Hill — 2009-10-22T17:51:58-05:00

Toshi - Toshi Reagon

Toshi Reagon — 2009-10-18T10:32:35-05:00

Toshi Reagon rocks on Toshi, a tight collection of stripped-to-the-bone tracks that go for the throat straight from the heart. Borrowing the Kinks' eternally classic "You Really Got Me" riff on the opening cut "Oh No No," Reagon kicks into high gear, detailing the trials of love and fidelity with melody and fervor. Though the lyrics are laden with passion and angst, the album is an uptempo affair, bolstered via a strong backbeat and Reagon's patented vocal style, which melds blues, soul, gospel, and r&b. Her folk roots emerge in "Big Love," a poignant cut embellished by Catherine Russell on mandolin and bassist Fred Cash, who's upper-register counterpoint provides the perfect foil to Reagon's phrasing. "Ballad of the Broken Word" is a tasteful blues dirge abetted by a cadre of sultry backing vocals and acid guitar leads aplenty. But the kicker is a ballad rendering of the Cars' old hit "Just What I Needed," a duet with Marc Anthony Thompson, who does his best imitation of Leonard Cohen. Another strong outing by an artist who improves with each new release. ~ Tom Semioli, All Music Guide

Concurrencia - Altazor

Altazor — 2009-10-14T14:19:12-05:00

My True Name - Carrie Newcomer

Carrie Newcomer — 2009-10-13T23:19:26-05:00

Carrie Newcomer's fifth album for Philo finds her songwriting talents firing on all cylinders with delightful results. While there's material on My True Name that could easily fit on country radio ("I Should've Known Better," "What Kind of Love Is This," "Something Worth Fighting For"), there are other tunes like "This Long" and "When One Door Closes" that push the musical boundaries further than any of her previous outings. Other highlights include "One Good Turn," "The Length of My Arms," "The Moon over Tuscon" and the title track. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

Sacred Ground - Sweet Honey in the Rock

Sweet Honey in the Rock — 2009-10-13T21:16:05-05:00

Shum Ticky - Laura Love

Laura Love — 2009-10-12T18:30:29-05:00

For her second major-label release, Laura Love is benefited greatly by her backing musicians. Rod Cook displays some nimble-fingered guitar playing and Barbara Lamb provides fiddle work, and co-wrote several tracks, that is intregal to the sonic tapestry of Shum Ticky. Love employs an engaging vocal delivery that resembles an edgier, more versatile Natalie Merchant. Lyrically, the songs are often quirky and borderline nursery rhymes like "Mahbooty" and the highly-rhythmic "Aha Me A Riddle I Day." Other lyrics tend to bead in on a more personal nature as on the fractured self-view of "Punctured And Hissing," the mantra-like "Less Is More," with its stutter-step melody and bracing fiddle, and "Sorry," a gentle ballad recognizing the futility of a failing relationship. All of that and a guest appearance by rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot on the perculating "The Clapping Song" makes Shum Ticky a record that shows why Love has acquired a loyal following and critical kudos. ~ Tom Demalon, All Music Guide

Octoroon - Laura Love

Laura Love — 2009-10-12T16:19:12-05:00

Shum Ticky - Laura Love

Laura Love — 2009-10-12T09:11:06-05:00

Sacred Ground - Sweet Honey in the Rock

Sweet Honey in the Rock — 2009-10-06T18:18:02-05:00