Customer Reviews

River Under the Road

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Texas is home to more great songwriters than anywhere in the US, so I am predisposed to giving a new name from that state a positive listen. And Ana Egge did not disappoint me.

Her voice has a warmth and depth you would expect in someone more mature, and her writing is simple and clear. You won't find heavy-handed poetry or maudlin self-indulged musings, just great straight-ahead story telling.

The title track, "River Under the Road", is a beautiful and quietly meaningful tune. There is a vague resemblance to Gillian Welch on several tracks, but with a more contemporary treatment.

The arrangements and production are tasteful and appropriate for the material. My only criticism, (and in light of the material, a small one!) is that Ana's voice is too deep in the mix and you lose lyrics. This is a common problem with indie recordings, but certainly not much of a reason to bypass this record. It is a stunner, and this young woman should have a long and healthy career ahead of her.

I had never heard of Ana Egge before I saw her as the opening act for Shawn Colvin in April 1998. This was at a club called Bogart's in Cincinnati, OH. She came out onto the stage with no accompaniment, just a guitar she had made herself. As she sang her songs, I was amazed. She has a beautiful voice, and sings songs perfectly suited to herself. After the show I stopped by the vendor's stand to buy the only Ana Egge CD available, "River Under the Road." I can't count the number of times that I've listened to it since then. Some of the stand out songs from the CD (and her performance) are "Talco Girl," "Fierro," and "Fairest Of Them All." If you enjoy singer/songwriters like Shawn Colvin, Lucinda Williams, and Mary-Chapin Carpenter, then Ana Egge is an artist that you will come to love. Highly reccommended!

My clock radio goes off at 5 am. A few days ago i was listening to NPR when they aired a profile of Ana Egge. Her voice was so beautiful that it woke me out of a sound sleep. Unfortunately it wasn't soon enough to catch her name. After searching all over the Web I tracked down this CD. It was well worth the effort. She has a lovely voice. While I don't usually listen to country music, this album is fresh and lively and goes beyond the usual cliches of country lyrics and music. Thanks NPR!

Ana Egge's "River Under the Road" is one of those obscure CD's that you'll be glad you took the time to find. Her soft country-folk mix is moving and emotional. Dave Sanger, Asleep at the Wheel's drummer, has done excellent production work, bringing out her vocal talents without overpowering them. The title track is a great midtempo country tune. "Fairest of Them All" is an extremely strong track that pulses with energy, "In the lamplight of a motel room she writes home to the moon, say goodnight to my old bedroom, I'll be home to visit someday soon." Another plum is the soft "Bless Me Mother," a soft lament, "It shouldn't hurt so to love like this, it's not your face, it's your voice I miss." Jason Roberts' fiddle turns "Empty Hands" into a treat. Pedal steel is mixed heavy on "The Bramble & the Rose." Soft acoustic guitar backs the pretty "Souls Out Sailing," "I was waiting for tomorrow in the midnight rain, your velvet voice filled the night." Born in Saskatchewan and raised in Ambrose, North Dakota, Ana sings "Dakota" about the little town of 50 from where she came. Another favorite of mine is "Made of Iron," as emotionally powerful as it is catchy, sung from a male point of view, "You're the preacher's daughter all dressed in white; I want to take you dancing, twirl around the world holding me tight." "Mind Over Matter" is a good track whose lyrics speak of emotional pain while the music is upbeat and joyful. "Fierro" is a ballad about a little town in New Mexico. The CD concludes with Ana's reading of "Talco Girl" about a Dallas motel room. This CD has variety from the rocking toe tappers, to country weepers, to the folky melodies. U snooze U lose with this great CD!

If you like Shawn Colvin, Lyle Lovett, Gillian Welch, et al, you will love Ana! Buy her cd, she is really a wonderful singer/songwriter. She's real country, which is laid back, no that country pop nonsense, and not held down by labels.