Title: The List
Artist: Roseanne Cash
Date: 2009
Label: Manhattan Records
When Roseanne Cash was eighteen-years-old, her father Johnny Cash gave her a list of “100 Essential Country Songs.” This album is indeed a tribute to her father and old time country music. It’s also a good album for people who think they don’t like country.
I was amazed by the versatility of Cash’s music arranger. Miss the Mississippi and You has wonderful Hawaiian guitar-like flourishes that take you back to the 70s (Track 1). Heartaches by the Number features Elvis Costello and has a real honky-tonk feel (Track 6). She’s Got You has a sultry gospel feel with walking bass and those slow harmonic progressions on the organ (Track 9).
Other good tracks:
Track 3: Sea of Heartbreak – A must hear if you want to hear Bruce Springsteen do country. Harmonies are surprisingly catchy.
Track 4: Take These Chains from My Heart – Roseanne Cash really tugs at the heartstrings with this beautiful melody over a descending bass.
For samples from this album, check out Roseanne Cash’s website at http://www.rosannecash.com/
Other Reviews:
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/18/139742437/rosanne-cash-interprets-her-fathers-country-list?live=1
[...] loved Cash’s songs from The List but I had never realized how much spirituality influenced her music. This interview covers [...]