Valley Of Heart’s Delight

This Los Altos native and fifth generation Californian, knocks it out of the park in her sophomore album that reflects on the estrangement she now feels towards her birthplace now that it has morphed from apricots to Apples. With her perfectly imperfect vocal style she sings of home, family and places she's been as an itinerant musician with clever lines like "I fell in love with a fisherman but it was catch and release". Hats off too to the spectacular band, including Jenny Conlee-Drizos of the Decemberists, which makes the sometimes intricate arrangements sound totally spontaneous & joyful whether doing Dixieland or quiet acoustic numbers. Looking to beguile your listeners with very authentic music from a rising Americana star - this is the disk for you.

RIYL: Neko Case, Gillian Welch

1 Lowland Trail - stellar vocals backed by simple guitar & bouncy piano (med, 2:25)***

2 Keep It On a Burner - joyful horns lend a Dixieland feel (med, 4:28)***

3 I Remember Carolina - fun, cajun infused country rocker with hot fiddle (fast, 4:55)**

4 Beggar For Your Love - tearful love song with soulful piano & organ (slow, 3:28)**

5 Mother Told Her Mother Told Me - mesmerizing rocker with haunting vibe & shifting tempos explores the pain of leaving her family home (fast, 3:56)***

6 With The Middle - reflection on life's daily grind (slow, 3:28)

7 Santa Rosa - melancholic life on the road tale with sweet accordion & harmonica (med, 2:31)*

8 Crazy or Died - gospel organ, piano & cry in your beer slide considers what Jesus would think if he came back now (slow, 3:15)**

9 Steelhead Trout - crazy fun Cajun two-step (fast, 2:23)*

10 Sound and Fury - waltz, name drops Los Altos

11 All Tied Together - ode to Justin Townes Earl with plaintive vocals over acoustic guitar & simple piano (slow, 3:35)