With heart-rending honesty Cash chronicled the disintegration of her marriage to Rodney Crowell in the ten boldly plaintive tracks on this superb record. It is also the record that split her from the country establishment, in the process joining the ranks of the acoustically minded neo-traditionalists. A definitive statement.
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Wrecking Ball Emmylou Harris 1995 [Elektra]
Although this is a marvellous album by any standards, folkies will be wary of Daniel Lanois' U2-like production. Harris is in fine voice as she works through an eclectic selection of songs featuring densely produced textures that occasionally find the folk fringes - particularly on the ethereal 'Going Back to Harlan' and homey 'Sweet Old World'.
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Time After Time Eva Cassidy 1996; released in 2000 [Blix Street]
After dying of cancer in 1996 at age 33, Cassidy's Songbird became a UK chart-topper in 1998. An intensely emotional interpreter of songs and possessing an extraordinary voice, this is the most folk-oriented set released since her death, with others heavy on the blues and jazz. Beware of inferior exploitation records getting around.
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Mortal City Dar Williams 1996 [Razor & Tie]
Leading New England folkie Dar Williams has gradually moved away from spare acoustic folk to a more polished singer/songwriter sound. Her second album finds Williams on the precipice of popularity, while still maintaining the more enigmatic folk elements in her music. Be forewarned, however, things got decidedly more commercial after this.
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Friends of Mine Ramblin' Jack Elliott 1997 [Hightone]
Woody Guthrie protégé who earned his nickname from his rather lengthy answers to the most basic of questions. Friends of Mine is a collection of acoustic duets with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Tom Waits, John Prine and Bob Weir. As on previous efforts, Elliott stays true to form by choosing to focus on some of his folk favourites.
Where Have All the Flowers Gone Various Artists 1998 [Appleseed] 2CDs
Anything Pete Seeger ever recorded seems to be fair game for this double-CD set with an artist lineup that reads like an honour roll of modern social consciousness. The sheer variety of music on offer here is both a strength and weakness, with plenty to please folksters mixed with a few tracks that might be a bit 'out there' for some.
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A Crash Course in Roses Catie Curtis 1999 [Rykodisc]
Out-lesbian New England singer-songwriter Catie Curtis enjoyed a modicum of commercial success with this folk-pop collection made up primarily of love songs. Unlike earlier efforts the arrangements here stick to folkier basics. 'Magnolia Street' is the album's most popular track on this pleasing, if unspectacular, set.
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Shine Eyed Mister Zen Kelly Joe Phelps 1999 [Rykodisc]
Fingerstyle guitarist that has attracted significant attention for his lap steel playing. This is his third and the last of the early one-man efforts. It is saturated with rootsy folk-inflected blues, with Phelps' raspy vocals hitting the mark without ever getting in the way of his playing. Fans of well-played blues simply can't go wrong with this one.
