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Livin' on a High Note [LP]
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Livin' on a High Note [LP]
Current price: $14.99
Barnes and Noble
Livin' on a High Note [LP]
Current price: $14.99
Size: CD
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The title of
' fourth studio album for the
- label could apply to any given point in the singer's career, but in early 2016 it seemed especially apt.
was released the week her version of
's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" won a Grammy -- only her second -- in the category of Best American Roots Performance, and preceded the HBO premiere of the documentary Mavis! by a couple weeks.
was in the public consciousness as much as ever and was continuing to move in new directions. While the 2015 EP,
, was made strictly with
, and the preceding albums saw her work closely with
, this one was produced by
, another seasoned and sympathetic musician previously outside the
sphere. Material was sought from a wide-ranging roster of songwriters -- such as
,
, and
-- some of whom had to do a bit of homework prior to writing.
and her backing band, including backing vocalists
and
, recorded with
, who made some lyrical and musical adjustments and otherwise kept the process as simple as possible. Inspired by
' "Happy,"
requested joyous material from her collaborators and got it, though it's all more true to her and her family group's past than to '60s pop-soul
, both in sound and in lyrical content. There are several standouts, like
's welcoming opener "Take Us Back" and
's consoling "Jesus Lay Down Beside Me." (Imagine
being handed a copy of
.)
himself co-wrote two of the more compelling songs. "Dedicated," a soft and contented love song, co-written by
, regards an enduring romance, while the closing number -- the barest song on the album -- incorporates words from
's "Drum Major Instinct" sermon.
' heart and soul are in it from front to back. Hope, love, and positivity beam through. ~ Andy Kellman