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| 5.0 classic | toohotforturtle | May 9th 08 |
I have always thought of myself as somewhat of a pioneer. I am not content to merely stick with the comfortable and mundane. Craving the new and different, I strike out in search of hidden gems that I can share with others. Or at least that is what I thought of myself until recently.
Having an eclectic taste, my Ipod has everything from soul to salsa, blues to beat box, punk to pop. My listening pleasures have no bounds and can not be boxed into a single genre. Then, someone handed me an Allison Moorer CD. Hmm, this is country, right? I don't listen to country. Why would they hand me a country CD. I scoff in my head. Then, on comes the proverbial light bulb. I am stuck in a rut. My boundless ear has bounds. I have turned into a, gasp, music snob. Why not listen to country? I decide to listen to the CD.
I listened to the first track, and was mesmerized. The voice that I was hearing was pure and resonance. This was not a voice that was dubbed and digitally enhanced to the point that it sounded wonderful, but could not be recreated live. This was the sound of pure talent. I fast forward to the next song. There is that voice again, the voice that is truly an instrument into itself. This song feels familiar, but I can't place it. Then it hits me. This is a beautiful rendition of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". It is "Ring of Fire" but different. It is hauntingly beautiful. When I was a teenager, I would be awaken early every Saturday morning to my mother playing her Johnny Cash eight track. I came to loathe "Ring of Fire". This song is different. It is soulful. It is beautiful.
I had to learn more about this artist that can me love the song that came to represent teenage "parents don't understand" angst. It seems that Allison Moorer is a Academy Award nominee for her song "A Soft Place To Fall" from The Horse Whisperer. This CD, Mockingbird, is her sixth recording. For Mockingbird, she tried something different. Each song on this CD is written by a powerful female artist. Did you know that "Ring of Fire" was actually co written by June Carter Cash? Allison Moorer then covers Patti Smith. Yes, THE Patti Smith. Country, check, punk....check...What else? Cat Power's song, Mockingbird is beautifully represented. Ok so, indie rock...check. Then I come to realize. Allison Moorer is not a "country artist". She is an artist. She is an artist like me. Someone that can appreciate great music, not matter what genre. She is a woman that understands that the female experience is some times slow and soulful, and some times up tempo and powerful, but always feminine. She is the rare breed of artist that can give you goose bumps with her voice. It is pure. It is wonderful. It is soul candy.
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