Customer Reviews

Whatcha Gonna Do

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Prime Cuts: That's What Makes Us Strong, A Canary's Song, Barbed Wire Boys

Every Clare Lynch is greeted with anticipatory delight: this two-time Grammy nominee has a way of choosing well-crafted narrative paeans that address life's issues through its sinuous plotlines, its prolific metaphorical usage, and its engaging three-dimensional characters. 2009's "Whatcha Gonna Do" is no exception. Whether it's the telling of stories of miners striving for a better life ("A Canary's Song") or a wayward lover deep in the mire of adulterous lust ("A Mocking Bird's Voice") or the penultimate moment of a sojourner about to meet his Maker ("Face to Face"), Lynch tells her stories with relentless verve and heartfelt emotions. Further, just like her previous efforts, this is a pretty sparse acoustic record with spades of bluegrass and country indulgences, accompanying these 12 tunes, with Lynch contributing 4 originals, a Bill Monroe classic and others coming from heavy weights such as Garth Brooks, Jesse Winchester, Susan Werner, Irene Kelley, and Donna Ulisse.

Charging out of gates is the sprightly opener "Great Day in the Mornin'," an uplifting inspirational ode to starting life well, gets further encouragement by the song's bright shuffling arrangement. Considering that Lynch has sung backings for Donna Ulisse's bluegrass records, it is not surprising that Ulisse returns favour by co-writing the Gospel number "Face to Face"--the briskly finger-picked acoustic guitar licks is certainly a highlight here. Another regular collaborator Jesse Winchester adds his vocals to "That's What Makes Me Strong." A song first cut by Winchester himself followed by the Judds, Lynch's version gives this Winchester composition about trust and vulnerability into a Caribbean makeover that is utterly delightful.

Most surprising entry here is a Garth Brooks and Buddy Mondlock's never recorded before "A Canary's Song." It's an eon removed from the bombastic anthemic fare so typical of Garth Brooks. Rather, "A Canary's Song" is a haunting ballad detailing the lonely feelings of some miners only slightly brightened by the sounds of a canary. Another ode to the working man is rousing "Barbed Wire Boys"--it is Lynch kudos to the farmers who worked around barbed wire fences. Though Jennifer Kimball and Lynch's "Widow's Weeds" tells the melancholic story of a widow who refuses to let go of her dead husband's memory is touching, it would work even better if it were a ballad rather than the song's full flushed sped up version.

Most ambitious is "Woods of Sipsey" -- in short, it's a ghost story set to a eerie dirge-like tune. The foreboding storyline tells of a haunted town (Sipsey, Alabama) which takes a dislike to outsiders while taking care of its very own residents. Despite its intriguing plot, what disappoints is the song's lack of a strong melodic structure which makes the song just drags on and on. Despite these quibbles, "Whatcha Gonna Do" is a fine record: Lynch's crystal clear sounding soprano has that down home feel that earths these story-songs in such realism that you can't help but find yourself living out these songs again and again.

The voice and sound of Claire Lynch puts me on a front porch swing overlooking the peaceful mountains of the Ozarks where I grew up. The lyrics aren't pretentious country lore but true heart-felt stories. I love her music and she just gets better and better!

If you are a fan of Claire Lynch, this is a must have. It is a great selection of songs and her band knows just how to fill in to augment her pure vocals. If you have never listened to Claire sing, you are in for a real treat. Highly recommended.

Claire is now one of my favorite blue grass female performers. I hope to see her in concert sometime soon.

I bought this as a gift for hubby. He loves it. Just what he wanted. Smooth transaction also. Good service.

Love this CD. My husband heard one track off of it on XM radio and knew I'd love her music. He was absolutely correct and I am listening this CD into the ground! Favorites---Mockingbird's Voice, A Canary's Song, Barbed Wire Boys and Woods of Sipsy. The whole thing is good.