High Notes, Vol. 6

Maria McKee
Late December

Never one to shy away from something bold, fresh and new, songwriter Maria McKee emerges again with the superb Late December, her sixth album as a solo artist. Where previous works have been dipped in country, bluesy rock and acoustic faire, Late December finds McKee in the mood to snap fingers, sway to the beat and rock and roll.

Womenfolk’s chosen standout is the infectious ‘No Other Way To Love You,’ a tune which if it doesn’t hook you on first listen, especially when McKee sings, “To live with you is all or nothing, baby / I may be risking my life again / But there’s no other way to love you, baby.”, then you’re just not really listening.

McKee’s amazing vocals are her trademark and can easily induce goosebumps. That voice, paired with this batch of songs, makes Late December quite possibly McKee’s best album yet.

Maria McKee - No Other Way To Love You From the album Late December

Amy LaVere
Anchors & Anvils

On her beautiful second album, Anchors & Anvils, singer-songwriter Amy LaVere is sure to receive further notice as a talent to watch. Mixing a love for country and rock styles with a talent for writing unique songs (plus, she can play a mean upright bass), LaVere teamed up with celebrated musician/producer Jim Dickinson and has crafted an envious batch of tunes.

The album opens with ‘Killing Him,’ a song one critic has described as a “…sinister ode to homicidal passion that smolders like Norah Jones with a razor in her boot.”

While decidedly a country tune, there’s no twang in LaVere’s pleasant, honey-lined voice and the music rolls and whirls with a fine mixture of violin, drums and groovy basslines.

Amy LaVere - Killing Him From the album Anchors & Anvils

Ebba Forsberg
Ebba Forsberg

One of my true favorites and previously mentioned on Womenfolk is the lovely music of Sweden’s Ebba Forsberg. Her self-titled third album, released late last year, is a collection of self-penned songs that perfectly detail the joys and pains of loving someone.

The tones of these songs can carry an underlying darkness; they’re moody and thick and if one listens carefully, can catch the stinging stubtleties in Forsberg’s words. Her strengths as a songwriter lie in her soft, but impacting deliveries.

Listen to Forsberg’s ‘Kiss Of Life’ for a prime example of how affecting a song can be. Entrancing hardly seems to describe her enough.

Ebba Forsberg - Kiss Of Life From the album Ebba Forsberg

Kristin Hersh
Learn To Sing Like A Star

On her first album since 2003’s The Grotto (50 Foot Wave aside), Kristin Hersh returns with what is perhaps her most accessible solo album yet. Her voice is one of the most distinguishable in the business and her unique songwriting is as sharp and engaging as ever.

One notable standout, ‘The Thin Man,’ finds Hersh using a steady tempo of guitar and cello and the low thumping of drums as an intriguing backdrop to Hersh’s incredible lyrics. The song itself is unlike anything else.

Kristin Hersh - The Thin Man From the album Learn To Sing Like A Star

Cover Girls, Vol. 12

Former Throwing Muses frontwoman Kristin Hersh recorded Cat Stevens’ “Trouble” for her fourth official solo album, Sunny Border Blue in 2001. The result was a song complimentary of the original, but with Hersh’s unmistakable voice and musical trademark.

The track was later released on the soundtrack for the popular show Everwood.


While I’m not a big fan of shows like Rock Star: INXS, I did happen upon Jordis Unga’s performance of ‘The Man Who Sold The World,’ a song written and performed by the legendary David Bowie. Unga’s rendition was incredibly striking, however. Emotional and engaging, it was remarkable to me that such power and intensity could come through a performance that lasts just over two minutes long. I surely hope Ms. Unga records a full album; it would be interesting to see what else she is capable of.


Snow & Voices, a side-project for singer-songwriter Lauri Kranz, released their self-titled debut album earlier this year, showcasing Kranz’s beautiful voice and compelling songwriting.

One song found on the album is ‘Go Your Own Way,’ a song written by Lindsay Buckingham and made famous by Fleetwood Mac. Kranz and company create an extraordinary down-tempo version which sounds both solemn and heart-breaking, yet beautifully executed.


Come In, Come In: LIVE was released in 2003 and features singer-songwriter (and Womenfolk’s current featured artist for This Woman’s Work) Hilary Scott performing ten brand new tracks in front of a studio audience of friends and family.

On this, Scott’s rendition of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance’ is a standout. With slight doses of country swirled in with Scott’s confident singing, the song immediately takes hold of its listener.


Downloads:
Kristin Hersh - Trouble
Jordis Unga - The Man Who Sold The World (live)
Snow & Voices - Go Your Own Way
Hilary Scott - The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance (live)