Carolyn Shulman – Heart on a Wire
What’s not to like on a Carolyn Shulman album? Her voice has all the composure & mediative pensiveness of the finest female vocalists – from the late Judee Sill (“The Kiss”) to Mary Chapin-Carpenter (“This Shirt”). It’s a voice that soothes anxiety & could be prescribed in lieu of medication. On the title track “Heart on a Wire” the voice delivers a warm-hearted persona. Void of showboating & filled with assurances.
The Denver-based singer-songwriter provides lots of restorative measures on her sophomore effort. Produced by John McVey in Colorado Heart on a Wire finds Ms. Shulman (vocals/acoustic guitar) applying her expertise with traditional stylings & acoustic folk to topics that explore social issues, varied narratives, pinches of bluegrass & adding emotional perspectives.
The set is available Sept 20 (Independent/40:32) & has material as pleasing as work by the likes of Joni Mitchell mixed with doses of Emmylou Harris & Beth Nielsen-Chapman. It’s a tightly constructed LP with every day occurrences (“All Burned Out” & “Call My Heart Home”) that incorporate feelings, reminisces & would resonate with listeners. It is not what many pop-singers release today with repetitive lyrics, cliches & predictable subjects.
“Old Farm House” is almost a modern-day Steinbeck tale of hard times but there’s optimism in the composition with touches of generous nostalgia. One would ask what if the Okies who had left their farms for California in the Depression-era 30s returned to their “old farm houses.” What would they find? Would it be depressing to find the dust, the grime & dilapidation in their old home or would it come as a sign of survival? Their past was still there…waiting for their return.
There are moments where Shulman is pop-oriented & humorous. She has a recognizable style but she’s also a hothouse of Americana roots rock. Incisive, colorful choruses & appetizing melodies. She may “sound” similar to those other fine artists but Carolyn mimics no one. There are songs where Carolyn’s diversity is on display — she leaves behind the light-heartiness & takes a deeper path with the beautifully poignant “Sunflower Seeds” & remarkably sensible “Eye To Eye.”
This is where brilliance shines in well-written songs & Carolyn Shulman shows an abundance of that sensibility.
Highlights – “Heart on a Wire,” “Bolt Out of the Blue,” “All Burned Out,” “Old Farm House,” “Call My Heart Home,” “Little Sparrow,” “Sunflower Seeds” & “Eye To Eye.”
Musicians – John McVey (electric guitar/baritone guitar/banjo/percussion/mandolin/high-strung guitar/percussion/bgv), Christian Teele (drums), Bradley Morse (bass), Eric Moon (keys/accordion), Glenn Taylor (pedal steel guitar), Eben Grace (electric guitar), Enion Pelta-Tiller (fadolin/fiddle), Giselle Collazo & Jen Hitt (bgv).
Color image courtesy of Andrea Hoang. CD @ Apple Music + https://carolynshulman.com/home
Song Premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2024/06/24/song-premiere-carolyn-shulman-little-sparrow/
Carol is certainly growing in her songwriting and performance skills. She is a local girl from my hometown. Nice review!