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 10/2010

    AMERICAN GRAVEYARD
    Hallelujahland

  • reviewed 02/2006

    DIGNEY FIGNUS
    Trouble on the Levee

  • reviewed 08/2006

    Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited
    Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited

  • reviewed 01/2006

    STEPHEN CLAIR
    Under the Bed

  • reviewed 06/2006

    Pure Prairie League
    All In Good Time

  • reviewed 09/2007

    BILL CALLAHAN
    Woke on a Whaleheart

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.