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... is the title of the newest CD from The Malvinas, one of the most widely geographically dispersed folk trios in North America. Beth Cahill (Quebec), Lisa Markley (Texas) and Gina Forsyth (Lousiana) have put together a really fine folk album full of insightful songs and oustanding playing. Highlights include a scathing take on the South ("Sweet and Sunny South") and "Che Guevara," a meditation on the new climate of fear regarding alternative ideologies. All three also have released solo albums as well. The name? They named their group after

The Malvinas website

Tim Harrison: Grey County
Tim Harrison has a long and distinguished career in Canadian folk circles, having directed the Owen Sound Folk Festival and several others, as well as producing music of his own since the late 70s. In Grey County, Harrison has penned a song cycle of sorts about the area in which he grew up, Owen Sound. Harrison proves himself a fine storyteller on "Dan's Song," which explores the disastrous consequences of small-town prejudice against a young man who did not fit in. Other highlights include an homage to Theodore Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss), a fine cover of Richard Farina's "Pack Up Your Sorrows", and a meditation on Don Quixote ("Don Quixote's Dream").

Folkguys - you also need to pick up this album to play "Never Bound By Time" for your folkgal:

"And it's not for the beauty of your arms my love,
As with each other we entwine
And it's not for the beauty of your hands my love
When they're gently held in mine
But it's for the beauty of your soul
For your grace and heart and mind
It's what's outside the senses, love
What is never bound by time."

The musicians on this CD lay down a bed of tight acoustic playing for Tim Harrison's smooth baritone to glide over. This CD has the whole package. I heartily recommend it.

Alistair Moock: Let it Go
Alistair Moock plays an engaging mix of folky blues rock on this CD, on which he seems to want to explore the metaphysical. On the folkier songs, his phrasing and melodic sense remind me a lot of Steve Forbert, albeit with a much rougher voice. When he does the blues thing, as on his ripping cover of "Death Don't Have No Mercy," this tendancy goes away. There are several really good songs here, as well as some quality guest appearances by Kris Delmhorst and Mark Erelli.

Craig Sonnenfeld: Reverie
Boston area singer/songwriter Craig Sonnenfeld is just getting back into the folk thing after giving it up for a career in IT, as he explains on "Talkin' Cubicle Blues", one of the highlights from this self-produced CD. Sonnenfeld has a pleasant baritone voice, and uses it well on this self-released "one man and a guitar" CD. I look forward to what he could produce with a budget and a producer and some backup players.

Oasis Acoustic Sampler Volume 52
Several artists, including Patrick Woods, Rachel Bissex, Steve Smith, David Llewellyn, Susan Kane, Hanneke Cassel, Thomas Leeb, SouthWind, Larry Hoyt, Joy Cuming and Chuck Suchy.

Martha Wainwright: Martha Wainwright
If I didn't know that Martha Wainwright's parents were Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, I could have guessed. Musically, the stamps of the great CDs by the McGarrigles are all over this CD, starting with Martha's voice, which sounds a lot like her mother's. Father's contribution to this CD appears to be attitude. as displayed in songs like BMFA. I like the songs on this CD which are more subdued and more McGarrigle and less Wainwright. If you are a fan of the Grrl Power folkies like Ani DiFranco, you would probably think the exact opposite of me.

Jude Johnstone: On a Good Day
The emotional center of this CD is "Evelyn", a powerful song about a beautiful young woman disfigured by a fire and how she copes by playing piano for the silent movies. The CD explores a variety of ways people cope - and don't cope - with events they can't control. Thematically, the album functions as almost a song cycle, and Johnstone provides hook-filled songs and a solid back up band, including Mary Ramsey (John and Mary, 10,000 Maniacs) and a guest appearance by Rodney Crowell. Stylistically, the album is mostly adult contemporary/light piano pop, a la Carole King or Sarah McLachlan.