Old CDs Reviewed Anew #13 - Eliza Gilkyson - Roses At The End of Time

Eliza Gilkyson

Roses At The End Of Time

Red House Records - 2011

http://www.elizagilkyson.com

I've had this CD in my listen to pile since Christmas and now finally got around to it.

The most recent studio album from folk artist Eliza Gilkyson is both a real and musical family affair.

The album is produced by her son Cisco Ryder, who also plays drums on the CD. Her brother Tony wrote the song "Death In Arkansas" and played acoustic guitar on "Vayan al Norte". It's the only song on the album Eliza didn't write. As for her musical family, label mates John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky make guest vocal appearances.

The album opens slowly with the song "Blue Moon Night". I loved Gilkyson's vocal performance on this song. The aforementioned "Death In Arkansas" is slightly more uptempo with a bouncier feel to the vocals.

I really liked the midtempo number "Slouching Towards Bethlehem". Meanwhile, the song "Belle of the Ball" had lyrics that seemed almost menacing at times. I definitely believe I could be reading too much into what I was hearing though. "Vayan al Norte" was slower in feel and a decent song. At least until the Spanish lyrics kicked in. While her website has the English translation, not speaking the language the song lyrics are in hurts my enjoyment of the song.

My favorite song on the album was the faster paced "2153". A pointed set of lyrics and a vibrant performance really sell this song.

I've been a fan of Eliza Gilkyson's for a while now and I love her ability to be a storyteller in her songs. She has a wonderful voice that she can shade to get whatever mood she is trying to convey. This remains true on this album.

Grade: B PLUS