The Dreaming Fields

Can you stand a little more Matraca Berg? I promise to move on with my next post, but I did say I'd review the new album, so here goes! I purchased this cd on line so I could take a listen before I saw Matraca perform. I really love this album. It was a long time coming, 13 years to be exact! Believe me, it was worth the wait. I told Matraca at Sundance that I thought it was the best thing she'd done. She agreed! It really covers a lot of territory subject wise, so maybe it's not a tight package thematically, but it's really a good sampling of Matraca's art. She can be fun, serious and everything in between. It starts off with a song I can only assume resulted from all the hanging around she does with Gretchen Peters. The title is If I Had Wings and is Matraca's take on the subject of spouse abuse. It's a pretty song. Subtle. Not the belt in the head of Gretchen's Independence Day, but succeeds in conveying the same message. Nice lead off track. The next is probably the most commercial song, You and Tequila which is doing well for Kenny Chesney and was also recorded by Deana Carter who co-wrote  it. Nice take on life in California. The line in the bridge "It's always your favorite sins that do you in" really hits the mark! Racing the Angels is a beautiful song complete with harmonies from her Wine Women and Song pals Gretchen Peters and Suzy Bogguss. They also join her on the anti-war South of Heaven. Other tracks I particularly enjoy are: The Dreaming Fields, Oh Cumberland and the oh so humorous Your Husband's Cheating On Us. I've had a fun time listening to this album and continue to play it regularly at work. It can be enjoyed on many levels so it works well in the background at work but is also a mental challenge when you take the time to listen intently. Good job Matraca. you knocked this one out of the park!

Here's Kenny Chesney doing You and Tequila with Grace Potter:

 Here's a vid of the Wine Women and Song girls doing You and Tequila: