A love song to the world
JoAnn Whetsell | Seattle, WA | 03/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I didn't know Lucy had a new album until it was recommended to me after placing another order. I'm glad for the recommendation, because it's a wonderful album, perhaps her best yet, and I would hate to have missed it.Lucy recently adopted a Chinese orphan. She explains in the liner notes that the title "The Red Thread" comes from an ancient Chinese belief that when a child is born, invisible red threads reach out from its spirit to all the important people who will be part of its life. This album is about the threads that bind her to others, and all of us to each other.The first song, "I Had Something," and "This Is Home" are most directly about the adoption of her daughter. "Line in the Sand" discusses the Palestinan-Israeli conflict without taking sides and could be about any number of troubled places in the world. Some of the other songs reflect on September 11, at least I interpret them that way. And it makes sense. That event, looming so large on the national and world consciousness, caused so many of us to think about our relationships, personal and otherwise. I don't know if Lucy is still in New York, but I know she started her singing career there. In some ways, the album seems like a love song to the city with new songs like "Brooklyn Train" and covers like "Love Song/New York." The song most directly about 9/11 is "Land of the Living." When I first read the lyrics, I thought to myself, yes, that is what it was like. She captures the chaos, the sadness, and even the racism, that existed in NYC after 9/11 with details like the flowers at the fire stations and the posters asking for information on missing persons. It's a deeply affecting song. And a deeply affecting album. And not heavy. There are fun songs, covers like "Off and Running" and "Cowboy Singer." There is the obligatory honky-tonk song (there always seems to be at least one on her albums, and I have yet to like any of them), but despite that, it's beautiful through and through."
Clean, solid, sweet - an excellent record
D. Huish | 02/12/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For those of us with an affection for live acoustic music, Lucy's shows are always a treat. She writes wonderful songs, puts her personality right out there where the audience can find it, and then plays and sings with simplicity and heart. Therefore, my hopes for this CD were that we would get the real Lucy, without overwrought production. This satisfies that hope, and then goes beyond. The vocals are clear, the instruments add spice and dimension, and the harmonies are just enough to round out the sound. This one is really, really good."
I agree - it's terrific!
folk fan | Cape Cod, MA | 09/26/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this CD at the Boston Folk Festival after seeing Lucy perform for the first time. The songs are intelligent, thoughtful, vunerable, sensitive and really speak to me. I relate better to her songs about 9-11 than others I have heard by other artists. After hearing her speak on stage about her daughter and husband I was very moved by the songs about the process of making her family complete by adopting a Chinese orphan. Several of the songs can bring tears to my eyes and the faster songs are upbeat and catchy. The musicianship is first rate. I'm very glad I was introduced to Lucy Kaplansky - she's a gem!
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