Iris DeMent
is one of those rare songwriters who arrived seemingly fully formed, an old soul already attuned to life's bittersweet bouquet of circumstances. She was in her early thirties when she began her recording career in 1992, and her subsequent output, if not overly prolific, has been of remarkably consistent quality.
Workin' on a World
is
DeMent
's seventh album and follows 2015's
The Trackless Woods
, a spartan but affecting collection of verse by Russian poet
Anna Akhmatova
set to music. On
Workin'
, the veteran singer/songwriter returns to her country gospel wheelhouse with renewed purpose to deliver a collection that is as timely as it is timeless. In a broad sense, she has made a protest album, one which speaks to present-day issues (gun violence, police brutality, climate change) in a way that inspires activism rather than despair. It's not the first time
has tackled difficult socio-political matters; her 1996 album,
The Way I Should
, was particularly outspoken, and she has remained a staunch advocate for human rights. What sets
apart is its concise, clear messaging and hopeful tone, especially in such a divided era. With its rolling piano and driving beat, the rousing title cut plays like a mission statement to an improving world she "may never see." Sacrifice for the betterment of future generations is a core tenet of social activism, and throughout the album
honors an array of heroes, past and present, from John Lewis and
Mahalia Jackson
to Rachel Corrie and
the Chicks
. She's at her fiercest on "Goin' Down to Sing in Texas," an eight-minute gun control epic that barely needs to wink, so apparent is the satire of its subject. But even amid her cynicism,
promotes courage and love, applauding the conviction of those fighting on the front lines of social justice. There are many tender moments too, especially on the standout "Say a Good Word." Urging love and forgiveness, even to our enemies, she sings "Life is so hard/Who isn't scarred/Go on and say a good word to them now."
's acute sense of humanity remains her greatest asset, and it has rarely sounded so graceful as on this wonderful set of songs. ~ Timothy Monger