Michelle Shocked
Arkansas Traveler (Mercury) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2
Taking on the persona of the album`s title, Shocked has taken some of the traditional bluegrass and folk tunes she first learned to play and recast them in often non-traditional settings, recording on the road with musical idols such as Levon Helm, Pops Staples, Doc Watson, Taj Mahal, Clarence
”Gatemouth” Brown, Alison Krauss and Hothouse Flowers. ”Frankie & Johnny” receives a swing blues treatment courtesy of Brown`s band while
”Over the Waterfall” gets a Celtic makeover. Given Shocked`s well-known political and social beliefs, even traditional fare like ”Prodigal Daughter
(Cotton Eyed Joe)” gets a wry feminist twist. Whether taken as a paean to American roots music or as a political missive, ”Arkansas Traveler” succeeds on both levels.
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Excellent (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Good (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
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Poor (STAR)