Sarah Pierce – Blessed By the West
This is a generous set of music for almost an hour. Ms. Pierce’s songs are draped in her love of the West. The deserts, mountains, people, the life, death & truth of the sand, dust & flesh. The compositions are not earth-shaking but are made up of songs that are gripping, poignant & have lots of individuality.
With “I Wanna Go Home,” Sarah evolves through it with her lovely alto voice similar in tradition to Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Kathy Mattea (“Where Have You Been?”) & the Midwest’s Carrie Newcomer.
The 13 vignettes of Blessed By the West (Drops Sept 13/Berkalin Records/57:20) were produced by Merel Bregante (drums/percussion/bgv) & Sarah (vocals/bgv/acoustic guitar). Recorded at studios in Texas, New Mexico & Colorado — the Illinois-born singer-songwriter was raised in rural West Texas. This is where her rootsy American heartland musical passion emanates from.
What’s remarkable is the ease with which Sarah sings her songs. There is no showboating paint, no real assertive vocals, or indulgent push. Her voice & the surrounding music are constantly an emotional treatment, pensive, persuasive & immersed in sincerity. “The Cowboy Way (Tied To the Ride),” & “Ropin’ In the Wind” cruise along with their absorbing melodies & Sarah’s vocal presence.
The songs never ascend into a C&W hokey posture. Instead, it’s far more country easy-listening. Sarah sings about strong women – the prairie women of the 18th & 19th centuries who risked their lives giving birth out in the wilds. The men were absent from ranches so they also did the work of men, learned to shoot, feed livestock, raise & teach children, repair roofs & barns, do the Bible teaching & remember to be mothers.
Perhaps a fine example of this woman would be found in the Loretta Young-William Holden-Robert Mitchum 1948 film “Rachel & the Stranger.”
The LP has a rural feel but does rock in spots (“Rough Stock”). It’s a colorfully rough-hewn set with tales Larry McMurtry or Zane Grey would write. The West is a beautiful place but it’s not a friendly place with all its creatures, weather & expanse. Sarah covers it all.
Highlights – “I Wanna Go Home,” “The Cowboy Way (Tied To the Ride),” “Any Place That’s Wild,” “Ropin’ In the Wind,” “The Messenger,” “Rough Stock,” “I’d Start Over” & “There’re Some Things a Cowgirl Just Knows.”
Musicians – Mike Dorrien (acoustic & electric guitars/gut string/baritone guitars), Mark Epstein (bass/fretless & arco bass/acoustic guitar/Wurlitzer piano), Pete Wasner (Steinway Grand piano/Hammond B3/Wurlitzer piano), Dave Pearlman (pedal steel/dobro), John Inmon (electric guitar), Sandy Martin (bass), Cody Braun & Kurt Baumen (fiddle), Andi Renfree & Mickie Fuhrman (bgv), Jim Jones (acoustic guitar/bgv), Doug Figgs (bgv), Jon Chandler (harmonica) & Robert Anderson (mandolin).
Color image courtesy of Sarah’s website gallery. An 8pp stitched lyric insert is included. CD @ https://sarahpierce.com/home
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Song Premiere: Sarah Pierce “I Wanna Go Home”
