Sarah
Hart's ROAD TO OHIO is a Road Worth Taking
Written by Mike Parker - Friday, 27 June
2008
If you think you
know Sarah Hart, think again. Her latest release, the lush,
slow-burning, Appalachian-laced Road to Ohio nestles
Sarah comfortably between Alison Krauss and Sheryl Crow, and lends an
authenticity to the music that lifts it far, far above the ordinary.
Road to
Ohio, is a stunning twelve-song collection of story songs
birthed from the whispery voiced singer/songwriter's personal
experience and vivid imagination. Where those two sources mix and
mingle may be anybody’s guess, but the result is a double shot of
world-class Americana with a bluegrass chaser. Ummmm, tasty!
Lyrically,
Road to Ohio represents a marked departure for an
artist better known for exploring ethereal themes of faith than earthy
issues of dirt roads and corn fields. Still, Sarah manages to inject a
healthy dose of religious imagery into her songs. “Jenny,” the lead off
track is a classic case in point. “Say, Jenny, clearly you’ve got
an apple you want bitten,” she chides. “Who-ee, Jenny, you’re
snaking up the wrong tree.” Chock full of sassy attitude with a
mischievous wink, this eternal tale of the temptress and the virtuous
woman turns into a full fledged cat fight with the virtuous woman
proving she can get down and dirty when she needs to.
Sweetly strummed
acoustic guitars, tinkling mandolin, lap steel, fiddle and upright bass
mix beautifully with Sarah’s tender and fragile vocals. Guest
instrumentalist like the incomparable Ben Shive, Steve Mason, and Andy
Osenga add to the overall quality of the project. But as gorgeous as
the music is, it is still the insightful, introspective lyrics that
make Road to Ohio such a treat.
Best cuts include
the melancholy “Pretty Girls,” the saucy “Blanket in a Cornfield,” and
the poignant “Dear Papa.”
(Original article link:
http://buddyhollywood.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=472&Itemid=49)
