CARRIE NEWCOMER

Before and After

2010-03-07

I'm sure it is easy to dismiss Carrie Newcomer's earnestness and quiet diplomacy of thoughtful living in these days of picking sides and yelling our opinions. Perhaps her music is too gentle for you, her observations too quaint. Too bad. Her 12th release for Rounder is another set of well-written and -delivered folk songs that counsel, "Courage doesn't always shout/But whispers and reminds/When we get up one more morning/And try one more time." Her rich alto has never sounded better, and the opening title track has her duet with another fine singer/songwriter, Mary Chapin Carpenter. She retains her gift of seeing the larger meaning in common daily experiences, best illustrated in "I Do Not Know Its Name." The song "Hush" is a beautiful rumination on forgiveness. The closer gives Eve credit for naming the animals (tough luck, Adam). If more of us would turn off cable news and listen to a Carrie Newcomer CD, we'd live in a better country. Try getting that through Congress. F-Contemporary 03/10 Michael J.

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 12/2010

    THE BLACKBERRY BUSHES
    Little Bit of Grace

  • reviewed 06/2006

    Pure Prairie League
    All In Good Time

  • reviewed 02/2009

    FRIGHTENED RABBIT
    The Midnight Organ Fight

  • reviewed 07/2004

    Lori McKenna
    Bittertown

  • reviewed 09/2008

    TONY LUCCA
    Canyon Songs

  • reviewed 05/2009

    JILL HENNESSY
    Ghost in My Head

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.