"Intolerance Blues" is one of the more vivid political songs I've heard lately (and I've heard a lot). Lynn nails jingoistic country singers and right-wing hate radio with one swipe: "A country station is playing a song of vengeance, riding on patriotic hate... The country they sing of sounds like an angry drunkard - blinded and happy on his drug."
And she picks a banjo as mean as her fights. Altogether, this is a nicely put together CD that grew on me with each listen. Sample the CD at her website or listen and buy at CD Baby.
Dave Sasscer, Quiet Mind
Here's another artist who does a good job with a variety of styles.
First off: making relaxing soft rock that doesn't get smarmy or sentimental is a neat trick, and David Sasscer pulls it off nicely here on several songs.
But as the set progresses one hears nods towards Santana, reggae, soul, funk, country, Eastern mysticism, and groovy, late 60s-style pop. Each song, though, has a simple, sweeping flow, even when rocking, which some of them do. The lyrics flow too, soulful and compact.
The only weakness, and it's pretty minor, is that Sasscer's singing, while sensitive, doesn't have much power. Still it works all right in this easygoing, modest music. In fact just about everything about this CD is "all right," in the best possible sense of the phrase. And playfulness does break up the meditative proceedings. The fun rocker "Dynamite" sounds a little like Jefferson Airplane, while "Jon Stewart is God" takes a good-natured poke at celebrity worship: "Jon Stewart is God / He made the earth and sky... from Genesis through Psalms / If you read between the lines / It's Jon you'll find."
A lot of talented new indie artists mix and match from an assortment of musical styles. Not too many do it as smoothly and assuredly as Sasscer. Highly recommended. Hear and buy at CD Baby.
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