IN MY TOP TEN OF 1998
02/03/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a delicate and poetic CD that is often in my rotation. It's one of those CD's that can take repeated listens from start to finish. "Leaving This Land", the title track and "Faded Coat of Blue" are just a few of the songs that force me to stop what I'm doing and sit down to listen until they're finished. Thomas's voice can evoke such a sense of worn-out tiredness, such bittersweet sadness, yet on other songs, such as "Louisiana Man", she'll have you tapping your foot and dancing along with the joyous vocals. It's bluegrass, yes, but it's also folk, country-and wonderfully timeless in it's conveyance of emotion. I must confess to not having tremendous patience with a steady diet of bluegrass music, although I certainly own my share, but this CD rises above whatever label one would put upon it. If Iris Dement, Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss are in your collection, you definitely need this. If they aren't, and you're looking to explore, buy this slice of Americana. You won't be disappointed."