Rings: Wedding Ring

Adrienne Young & Little Sadie : Wedding Ring

[purchase]

Adrienne Young has a unique flair in her music that’s an enchanting mix of old-time and pop with 21st century musical keenness and business acumen. Young's astute approach involves consummate musicians, charged-up arrangements, thoughtful messages, and bright, breezy vocalizing. Like her 2004 debut album Plow to the End of the Row, Young's sophomore effort in 2005, The Art of Virtue, was on her own Addiebelle Records. I appreciate this talented, young lady's self-confidence as she continues to build her resume in a competitive field.

The Art of Virtue was inspired in part by Ben Franklin's 'virtues of man' writings and stories. Songs on her album like "My Sin is Pride" and "My Love Will Keep" and "Wedding Ring" emphasize themes of morality, goodness, and integrity. While some messages might have a nostalgic look back to yesteryear, her music is contemporary and soothing. It's a thematic album that appeals to us in a visceral way "down where the roots grow deep."

Her 2005 album features Young's proficient songwriting, some reinvented old-time fiddle tunes, a Gospel standard, a Grateful Dead classic, and the Zydeco-flavored "Wedding Ring" with its spirited performance that gets us up and cutting a bean. Young's lyrics offer mature and solid advice, usually gained from a lifetime of experience. Her smarts and wisdom belie her age.

A Belmont University music business program graduate, Young's career took off after winning the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest. Her 2004 CD earned a Grammy nomination for album design. On her 2005 The Art of Virtue, Young's songwriting exhibits honesty and a natural inclination to create lyrical and melodic treasures. Her singing shines with its greatest lustre on the slower songs, while a few pieces (like "Wedding Ring") portray a more arduous side to her voice. She’s a young storyteller of original folk tales, and her parables put to music are very likeable.

Joni Covers: Free Man in Paris

Adrienne Young: Free Man in Paris

[purchase]

I'm looking forward to this week. As one of the younger contributors here, Joni Mitchell is not exactly the voice of my generation. I freely admit to not knowing all that much about her career and her music minus the few songs that everybody knows. I look at this week as a possible learning experience.

That said... I do have an idea in my head of what Joni's music represents and I tried to choose an artist who I think embodies the spirit of Joni and her generation.

Adrienne Young is best described as a free spirit whose sound runs the gamut from traditional string band fare to more modern takes on folk and bluegrass music with electric flourishes. She is also a very strong supporter of environmental issues including land preservation and sustainable agriculture. She mentions her causes in her songs, and supports them with her actions... something the Woodstock generation can no doubt appreciate.

This is Adrienne's version of "Free Man in Paris" from her 2007 album Room to Grow. There's a certain line in the chorus that might sound familiar to readers of this site.