Winged Victory
Signature Sounds, 2025
9/10
The folk singer Willi Carlisle is back with a 4th album, where some friends are along for the rootsy adventurousness.
“We Have Fed You All For 1000 Years” starts with Carlisle’s flowing banjo and soaring voice alongside Beth Chrisman’s elegant fiddle, and “Wildflowers Growin’” follows with a soft intimacy via Brennen Leigh’s backing vocals and Tony Kamel’s rich mandolin.
In the middle, the festive “Cryin’ These Cocksucking Tears” welcomes Oliver Stick’s accordion and Dees Stribling’s agile drumming, while “Work Is Work” is a harmonic album highlight thanks to Lindsay Greene’s upright bass and the swift guitars.
“Big Butt Billy” and “Old Bill Pickett” exit the listen. The former is full of spoken word and upbeat acoustic guitar, and the latter is a busy and meticulously display of old time flavor and precise string interaction.
A nostalgic effort that touches on bluegrass, polka, blues and country ideas, too, Carlisle is in excellent company and the unique storytelling and inimitable delivery is quite memorable.
Travels well with: Kassi Valazza- From Newman Street; Zack Keim- Battery Lane