American Quilt
675, 2021
9/10
Even if the Grammy winning songwriter Paula Cole hasn’t achieved the mainstream success that made her a household name in the ‘90s, the now 53 year old artist has maintained her prominent voice and remained quite busy in recent decades, as American Quilt is her 7th album since the year 2000.
An aptly titled record, and perhaps her most diverse work to date, Cole brings much experience and skill to relatable songs that span many genres and would be suited for mountains or cities, rivers or fields.
Cole starts the listen with the emotive and soulful “You Don’t Know What Love Is”, where gentle keys, precise upright bass and a guitar solo from Kevin Barry complement the sublime singing, and “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” follows with a gospel spirit that benefits much from Darcel Wilson’s backing vocals and Jay Bellerose’s punchy drumming.
At the halfway point, “Black Mountain Blues” embraces a rural flavor as adventurous fiddle and plucked bass help cultivate a warm climate, while “Good Morning Heartache” enters folk territory, where well timed clarinets and a Wurlitzer add much to the thoughtful, dreamy landscape. “Bye Bye Blackbird”, one of the album’s best, then touches on jazz sensibilities amid strategic finger snapping and cozy guitar lines.
Near the end, the bare and powerful “Steal Away/Hidden In Plain Sight” is a poetic and creative take on a traditional but with Cole adding an original, personal angle onto it, and “What A Wonderful World” exits the listen with a gorgeous interpretation of the classic that reminds us again of just how special the human experience is.
Cole has come a long way from her formative years as a back up singer for Peter Gabriel, and American Quilt again proves how timeless her well thought out song craft, radiant voice and personal wordplay continues to be.
Travels well with: Sweetlove- Goodnight, Lover; Evvan- Home