Amanda Cook – Restless Soul
This is an upbeat set. So upbeat that even the sad songs are musically uplifting. Thrashing about in these tunes are mandolins, acoustic guitars & banjos that toss off their notes like jabs & uppercuts in a boxing ring. While Amanda Cook did not write the songs on this showcase, she has a grip on these adrenaline-rush interpretations. Her voice is friendly, colorful & always effective.
The bluegrass flavors are evident but the country storytelling by these varied songwriters is on the mark. The arrangements are loose & self-assured because that’s what’s required. Too tight & it loses its flair. Amanda has clarity in her voice & is well-suited for this type of music. You don’t see her, but you can hear how entertaining she can be.
The 10 tasty portions making up Restless Soul (Drops Oct 18/Mountain Fever/36:44) were produced by Aaron Ramsey & The Amanda Cook Band. The set seems to try & not write the typical country-flavored tune. There’s some variety in the insightful lyrics & jaunty melodies. The musicianship is consistently on fire but not in a showboating manner. It’s applied with gusto & joy.
Amanda has enough in her soulful & energetic voice to go full-steam commercial, but she never seems to go to mainstream with these tunes. They each have their evocative interplay & instinctively brilliant performance thrust. “Goodbye,” is a double-fisted showcase that unequivocally the best this kind of music has to offer. Even the late John Hartford & Ralph Stanley would appreciate this kind of quality.
Some of the slower tunes have a lucid value & Amanda teeters in the delicate qualities of Alison Krauss. There’s a pensive tendency that Amanda seems quite comfortable emoting. “Put Me Away,” with its warm fiddle & Amanda’s soaring notes in all the right places dresses this song up in rich threads. Great take.
Not everything is bluegrass – “It’s Almost Over” is simply a strong ballad that showcases Ms. Cook’s vocal finesse in that Krauss tender whispery style. Excellent.
Highlights – “Last Road Going Home,” “The Devil’s Looking Glass,” “Goodbye,” “Put Me Away” & “It’s Almost Over.”
Musicians – Carolyne Van Lierop (banjo/lead & harmony vocals), Troy Boone (mandolin/harmony vocals), Bradley Wallen (guitar/harmony vocals), Joshua Faul (bass) & George Mason (fiddle).
CD cover photo courtesy of CDC Artistry – Christina Stevens. Group image courtesy of Amanda’s website photo gallery. CD @ Amazon & https://amandacookbluegrass.com/home
Song Premiere: Amanda Cook “When You Come Back Down”