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Track Listings
| 1. The Foothills |
| 2. You and Me |
| 3. You're the One I Love (feat. Fiona Apple) |
| 4. When It Pleases You |
| 5. Be There |
| 6. I'm a Memory |
| 7. Impossible |
| 8. The Ward Accord |
| 9. Lock & Key |
| 10. Take Up Your Spade |
Editorial Reviews
Sun Midnight Sun is the second solo album from acclaimed singer, songwriter, and fiddle player Sara Watkins. Produced by guitarist, singer, and songwriter Blake Mills, co-founder of the band Simon Dawes, the album features special guest appearances by Fiona Apple, Jackson Browne, Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Benmont Tench, and Sean Watkins.
Sun Midnight Sun follows Sara Watkins' critically acclaimed 2009 self-titled solo debut produced by John Paul Jones. NPR said Sara Watkins "puts her great instrumental breadth on display as she plays the guitar, ukulele and fiddle in addition to her sweet-voiced singing," and the Kansas City Star called it a record "for anyone who likes the sound of a good singer and a good band hammering out good music."
In the three years after her debut release, Watkins toured the world as guest fiddle player and vocalist with the Decemberists and joined Garrison Keillor on his nationwide Summer Love performance tours, as well as acting as his first and only guest host for A Prairie Home Companion broadcasts.
Sun Midnight Sun was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Shawn Everett at Zeitgeist Studio, Los Angeles, and includes songs written by Watkins ("You and Me," "Take Up Your Spade") as well as several collaborations with Mills ("The Foothills," "Be There," "The Accord," "Impossible," and "Lock and Key"). It also features songs by Dan Wilson ("When It Pleases You") and Willie Nelson ("I'm a Memory"), and a rendition of The Everly Brothers classic "You're the One I Love," on which Fiona Apple duets with Watkins.
Sun Midnight Sun follows Sara Watkins' critically acclaimed 2009 self-titled solo debut produced by John Paul Jones. NPR said Sara Watkins "puts her great instrumental breadth on display as she plays the guitar, ukulele and fiddle in addition to her sweet-voiced singing," and the Kansas City Star called it a record "for anyone who likes the sound of a good singer and a good band hammering out good music."
In the three years after her debut release, Watkins toured the world as guest fiddle player and vocalist with the Decemberists and joined Garrison Keillor on his nationwide Summer Love performance tours, as well as acting as his first and only guest host for A Prairie Home Companion broadcasts.
Sun Midnight Sun was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Shawn Everett at Zeitgeist Studio, Los Angeles, and includes songs written by Watkins ("You and Me," "Take Up Your Spade") as well as several collaborations with Mills ("The Foothills," "Be There," "The Accord," "Impossible," and "Lock and Key"). It also features songs by Dan Wilson ("When It Pleases You") and Willie Nelson ("I'm a Memory"), and a rendition of The Everly Brothers classic "You're the One I Love," on which Fiona Apple duets with Watkins.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
It bounces between pastoral folk and big-city pop/rock, often blurring the lines. Great crooner and songwriter.
May 13, 2012
By aaamazon
Format:Audio CD
Sara Watkins throws a bone to her old Nickel Creek fans by opening up "Sun Midnight Sun" with "The Foothills", one of the album's two instrumental numbers.
It's a zippy bluegrass tune, driven forward by Watkins' furious fiddle playing, and it's the closest she ever comes to the rustic sound of her former band.
Watkins doesn't completely forsake the farm for the city on this solo release, but she does stretch her arms quite a bit, pulling in everything from quirky indie pop to West Coast folk-rock to harmony-drenched Americana.
She nets a few big-name collaborators, too, with people like Jackson Browne, Benmont Tench, and Fiona Apple (who lays down some deep harmonies on a galloping, spaghetti western version of the Everly Brothers' "You're the One I Love") stopping by for a song or two.
This is clearly the Sara Watkins show, though, even when she relies on producer Blake Mills to help her co-write the album's best tunes, and she's never sounded better as a singer.
She croons like a country star on "Be There", a sad-eyed, twangy duet whose guitar riff pays tribute to Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time", and chastises a reluctant lover with a sharp, flirty coo on "When It Pleases You".
The rest of "Sun Midnight Sun" bounces between pastoral folk and big-city pop/rock, often blurring the lines between the two, and the album comes full circle with its closer, "Take Up Your Spade", a campfire singalong that roughly approximates Watkins' more acoustic beginnings.
It's not as polished as the other tracks, but it's a helpful reminder that even when you strip back the eccentric arrangements and lush production, Watkins can still deliver. A. Leahey
It's a zippy bluegrass tune, driven forward by Watkins' furious fiddle playing, and it's the closest she ever comes to the rustic sound of her former band.
Watkins doesn't completely forsake the farm for the city on this solo release, but she does stretch her arms quite a bit, pulling in everything from quirky indie pop to West Coast folk-rock to harmony-drenched Americana.
She nets a few big-name collaborators, too, with people like Jackson Browne, Benmont Tench, and Fiona Apple (who lays down some deep harmonies on a galloping, spaghetti western version of the Everly Brothers' "You're the One I Love") stopping by for a song or two.
This is clearly the Sara Watkins show, though, even when she relies on producer Blake Mills to help her co-write the album's best tunes, and she's never sounded better as a singer.
She croons like a country star on "Be There", a sad-eyed, twangy duet whose guitar riff pays tribute to Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time", and chastises a reluctant lover with a sharp, flirty coo on "When It Pleases You".
The rest of "Sun Midnight Sun" bounces between pastoral folk and big-city pop/rock, often blurring the lines between the two, and the album comes full circle with its closer, "Take Up Your Spade", a campfire singalong that roughly approximates Watkins' more acoustic beginnings.
It's not as polished as the other tracks, but it's a helpful reminder that even when you strip back the eccentric arrangements and lush production, Watkins can still deliver. A. Leahey
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have really enjoyed Sun Midnight Sun. The CD was worth it just for the song Lock and Key. This song really reminds me of the best of Nickel Creek, the songwriting is superb. I enjoyed the guest appearances from Fiona Apple. It's a shame there is not more good home grown music on the radio like Sara delivers. This is the best CD I have purchased this year.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sara Watkins is a refreshing musical talent. There is a definite element of innovation and evolution when compared with her previous album on display here and while it doesn't always land 100% of the time, the effort is admirable and it makes for an album that you can return to and find new things to joy with each new rotation.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sara is great
This album is pretty darn good. Love Sara on her own, but please bring back Nickel Creek! Also Check out what the other guys have been up to. Some fun stuff out there.
Published 12 days ago by Trevor Cooley
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not her best work
I can understand an artist wanting to grow and diversify and not get stuck in a genre. But this album strikes me as a complete rejection of Sara's bluegrass roots. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Bready
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely!
I'm in love with this album! I've listened to from beginning to end it 5-6 times in the few days I've owned it!
Published 2 months ago by georgiagirllk
5.0 out of 5 stars
An edgier Sara Watkins
Blake Mills has brought out the best of Sara and we get to hear an ecletic sometimes achingly beautiful group of songs. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jay Fisher
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice cd
This was a gift for my husband. He'd heard a sample of her music on a podcast and knew nothing else of her. We listed to the cd a couple times and it's a great album.
Published 4 months ago by Mi-ami
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not Quite Good
I hate to be the lone dissenting voice of all the reviewers but I don't care for this album. It has its interesting parts but, overall, it's pretty weak. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Thomas Payne
5.0 out of 5 stars
great artist @ work
my wife and i saw her w/ jackson brown last summer. i waited a few weeks to buy her C.D. wow she was great in a live concert, but is equally great on a C/D. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Stephen Mckenzie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful voice, great range
I discovered her first at 'A Prairie Home Companion', then again at 'The Watkins Family' hour.
I really enjoy the range in this album. Read more
I really enjoy the range in this album. Read more
Published 6 months ago by D. Bernal
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sara Makes The Move To Americana!
Sara Watkins has taken a major step forward on this her latest release. In her Nickel Creek days, she would sing the occasional song, but her voice while sweet, was quiet and less... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Flash
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected
I like Sara's first solo record and enjoy her appearances on Prairie Home Companion. I expected more of the same from this new album. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Rushmore
Listmania!
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