Bullet In The Cabin Wall
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
Listen to Bullet In The Cabin Wall
A guitarist and vocalist who describes her music as ‘Kentucky jams melded with jangly folk rock’, Cheryl Cawood brings along an all star cast for these 12 tracks that are rich and soulful.
Cawood puts the title track in the lead off position, where complicated mandolin from Jack Saunders’ suits the warm, expressive singing from Cawood in the eloquent Americana, and “L&N Don’t Stop Here” follows with a more firm approach that recruits charming banjo from Saunders amid Rick Richards’ agile percussion.
Elsewhere, “Ballad Of Spade Cooley” is full of cozy intimacy that showcases Cawood’s sublime singing alongside Eleonore Whitmore’s fiddle, while “Deep Down In Your Bones” is full of gritty, rural song craft that sounds right at home in the Southern US.
Edging close to the end, “Crossing Mountains” showcases Michael Bobbitt’s jumpy piano and soothing vocal harmonies on the dance friendly album highlight, and “Daddy’s Hometown” exits the listen with a breezy, country spirit that’s full of beauty and grace.
This is Cawood’s debut solo album, though she’s had much success in cover bands. An artist who has endured much tragedy, she has taken those experiences and turned it into songs about addiction, mental illness and healing, and it makes for a very substantial first record.
Travels well with: Surrender Hill- A Whole Lot Of Freedom; Bill Scorzari- Now I’m Free