CD Review- Sara Watkins- Sara Watkins

The Background
Sara Watkins debuted in 1989 as the fiddler of the progressive bluegrass group, Nickel Creek, which consists of herself and her elder brother, Sean, as well as mandolinist Chris Thile. As a band, they are notable for three wide-released albums: Nickel Creek, This Side, and Why Should the Fire Die?. Aside from singing and fiddling, she can play the ukulele and the guitar. With Nickel Creek, she has released five studio albums, one compilation album, and seven singles. Nickel Creek are currently on hiatus to branch off into new projects, and Sara is pursuing a solo career, having released her debut, Sara Watkins, on Nonesuch Records on April 7, 2009

The Review
Could it be that a bluegrass-country album full of songs fit for the back porch of a small town general store could both harken back to another era and be more relevant and stylish because of it? Produced by Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones (who had performed with Watkins in the band Mutual Admiration Society), the album is filled with rich instrumentalization and a guest list of major bluegrass players. It’s diverse in style, covering classic country, modern country, bluegrass, folk and Americana without boundaries. “In terms of song selection,” Watkins explains, “I didn’t have a goal of making this a country record or a folk record. I didn’t want to avoid anything- except faking it. This was a chance to make a record that doesn’t represent anyone else but me.” Whether it’s the sparse orchestrations without ever feeling empty on “All This Time”, the surprise falsetto and rocking drum tempo on “Long Hot Summer Days”, the haunting dobro on “My Friend”, Watkins master fiddle-playing on Frieiderick, the album Sara Watkins has a surprise on nearly every song. She channels her inner Jeannie Seely and Jean Shepard playing the classic country tune “Any Old Time” and has a modern day western campfire song on my favorite tune, “Pony.” Outside of National Public Radio, this is an album, today’s country music radio will largely ignore. It’s a shame- like those back porch general store jams, it’s a loss of a musical realness & richness for the masses.

Sounds Like
Alison Krauss & Jewel

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Lord Won’t You Help Me
Long Hot Summer Days
Pony

The Verdict:
Four Stars Out Of Five