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. 15

Consistently churning out quality music since 1998, singer-songwriter Thea Gilmore is also no stranger to the works of others who have come before her.

For the release of 2004’s Loft Music, Gilmore recorded ten renditions of songs by some of her favorite artists including the Ramones, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Van Morrison.

Featured here is her smoky, foot-stompin’ rendition of ‘Hide ‘N’ Seekin,’ a song originally written by Paul Westerberg.


On her fifth album as a solo artist, Maria McKee again makes a record that stands apart from everything else she has previously recorded. Although Peddlin’ Dreams would best be described as a return to McKee’s country/folk/rock roots, it’s McKee’s powerful and signature vocals that are truly the only thing familiar about its sound.

Among the album’s twelve tracks stand a remarkable cover in Neil Young’s ‘Barstool Blues,’ a song originally recorded for his 1975 album, Zuma. McKee’s version replaces Young’s full-band sound with a softer piano, further emphasizing the sadness of its story.


It’s hard to believe that Laura Burhenn’s Wanderlust is now two years old, but what a gem it is.

For her debut, the Washington, D.C.-based Burhenn opted for a cover of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Chelsea Hotel No. 2,’ a personal song in which Cohen wrote about his relationship with the legendary Janis Joplin. Burhenn’s version is equally as hypnotic and soft and capable of causing goosebumps.


Making its second appearance on Womenfolk’s ‘Cover Girl’ series is the soundtrack for Everwood. While I can’t claim to be a big fan of the show, this soundtrack is something special.

The premise was simple: feature a handful of today’s artists and pair them with some of the most notable songs from the 70’s.

Artists and bands like Kristin Hersh, Jason Mraz, Travis and the Stereophonics contibuted to the compilation.

Featured below is singer-songwriter Toby Lightman’s fine cover of Jim Croce’s ‘Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels).’


Downloads:
Thea Gilmore - Hide ‘N’ Seekin’
Maria McKee - Barstool Blues
Laura Burhenn - Chelsea Hotel No. 2
Toby Lightman - Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)