DRIFTWOOD FIRE

How to Untangle a Heartache

2011-09-21

Driftwood Fire’s frontwoman Lynn Scharf sings with extraordinary confidence for a debut album—and she can whistle too (check out “Intermission”). Scharf has amazing control of her falsetto voice. Bandmate Charlotte Formichello picks her banjo with unhurried ease. The mix on this album is top notch. It was produced/engineered by John McVey (by day Formichello is an acoustic technician with the National Parks Service). “Let It All Go” is the focus track for good reason–-it is the best on the CD—listen for that blue note. “Appalachian Hills” is a haunting melodic story (with snare drum roll) of the Southern wrongdoing of men in white with gold crosses. “Backdoor” has more of a rock focus with electric guitar and “Paper Bag” is the story of the heartache and love lost with soft accordion in the background. The storytelling of Scharf and Formichello has caught the attention of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour contest. How to Untangle a Heartache is a captivating, heartfelt album. – Pam VandeKerkhoff

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 04/2009

    SUSAN WERNER
    CLASSICS

  • reviewed 09/2012

    RICKIE LEE JONES
    THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

  • reviewed 09/2009

    LEE HARVEY OSMOND
    A QUIET EVIL

  • reviewed 09/2011

    POKEY LAFARGE AND THE SOUTH CITY THREE
    Middle of Everywhere

  • reviewed 07/2015

    Flagship Romance
    Fee Fie Foh Fum

  • reviewed 12/2005

    MARTHA BERNER
    This Side of Yesterday

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.