Rounder
Since bluegrass music has been relegated to the fringes of the music scene in most parts of North America the chances are practically non-existent that you will ever hear any of these songs played on any commercial radio stations. That is a true shame because Claire Lynch has an amazing voice that should endear her to anyone who chances to hear it. It is pure and clear and utterly enchanting. Equally at home with swing and folk-country tunes she draws favourable comparisons to artists like Iris DeMent and EmmyLou Harris.
With a career just into its second quarter-century Claire has a wealth of material to draw upon for this CD. New versions of selections from her early days with the Front Porch String Band including the nostalgic “Hills of Alabam’” and “Kennesaw Line” share the stage with the zydeco-tinged “Thibodaux” (fiddle by Randy Howard) and what just may be the best vocalized version of the classic “Wabash Cannonbal” that I have ever heard. Nobody holds that note — you know the one I mean — like Claire Lynch does. She manages to nail the rest of them as well.
