Upstate New York-based vocalist
Bridget Ball
and her husband (fellow
singer-songwriter
Christopher Shaw
) have quietly built a fine catalog of
contemporary folk
music marked by consistently high-quality musicianship and thoughtful songwriting.
Bricks and Windows
is one of
Ball
's most fully realized efforts, and features guest performances by several Woodstock area notables, including
folk revival
pioneer
Artie Traum
,
the Lovin' Spoonful
's
John Sebastian
, and
Garth Hudson
from
the Band
. Perhaps due to the influence of these '60s icons, much of the music on this disc flows with a gentle autumnal vibe typical of classic records by artists like
Tim Hardin
Simon & Garfunkel
Steve Gillette
Jim Croce
.
and
Shaw
composed seven of the albums' 12 tunes, and these stand favorably alongside the covers; the duo has a knack for tackling intensely personal and subtle subject matter without resorting to the sickening drippiness that plagues the work of many less-talented modern
folk
artists. The non-original tunes are well chosen as well.
performs
Michael Nesmith
's classic
"Different Drum"
with vocal aplomb, but unfortunately adds little to the definitive
Stone Poneys
version. The other musicians' performances are sensitive throughout, and special mention should be made of
Cindy Cashdollar
, whose dobro and lap steel playing often makes good songs extraordinary. Overall,
is the work of a mature and accomplished
artist who deserves much wider acclaim. ~ Pemberton Roach