[FM] FAME Review: Meridian Green's "In The Heart Of This Town" written by Alf Storrud

[David N. Pyles]

In The Heart Of This Town
Meridian Green

Stringbender Music
Box 76,
Caspar, California 95420
www.stringbender.com
e-mail: meridian@mcn.org


A review for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange written by Alf Storrud 
(alf.storrud@hi.uio.no)

They don't make records like this anymore - or rather, the big companies 
don't make them anymore. If anyone needs proof that the best roots music in 
America is currently being produced by small independent companies, they 
should listen to this record by folksinger Meridian Green. With help from 
husband and ex-Byrd Gene Parsons on a variety of stringed instruments, and 
with added support from friends like Alex deGrassi, Paul McCandless and Gib 
Guilbeau she has produced a true gem. A record in the classsic California 
folk rock tradition, but with uilleann pipes, cello, English horn and 
clarinet adding extra texture to Green's self-penned songs.

The lyrics reflect on the conflict between wanderlust and the urge to 
settle down, on growing old and on the necessity of belonging somewhere. 
Sometimes, like in "Song for Sienna" she describes religious longing. These 
are themes that could have become pretentious in less skilled hand. But 
Green has a sure way with words. Avoiding the "poetic language" that would 
have brought these songs down, she lets the images speak for themselves:

"It's quicksilver, time is
A swift moving river
Slips through my finger
And goes"

Musically the songs range from jazzy melodies like  "Where Does Time Go?" 
to country-rockers like "Come On Wind" and "Listen To The Thunder". All 
done with feeling and style. The listener constantly discovers nice musical 
touches like the gently rocking guitar intro to "Just Away" or the bluesy 
clarinet on Bob Gibson's "Abileene". Greens melodies are catchy and strong, 
and with Gene Parsons' guitars, mandolin and pedal steel creating a 
shimmering backdrop to the vocals, songs like "Birds Fly South" and "Sarah 
Lou" becomes incredibly beautiful. This is a gentle, classy album full of 
musical and lyrical wonders - and it is yours for a mouse-click 
(https://web.mcn.org/d/stringbender/secureCD.html) and a few bucks. 
Strongly recommended!

Tracks:

Listen to the Thunder
Birds Fly South
Just Away
The Lorax (In Laytonville)
Sarah Lou
Song for Sienna
Come on Wind
Where Does Time Go?
Abilene
Hometown

Edited by: David N. Pyles (dnpyes@acousticmusic.com)

Copyright 2001, Peterborough Folk Music Society. This review may be 
reprinted with prior permission and attribution.

================
David N. Pyles
Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
P. O. Box 459
Brattleboro, VT 05302-0459
(802) 257-0336 Mon-Thur 9:30am-4:30pm
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames/fame.htm
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The last time somebody listened to a Bush, folks wandered in the desert for 
40 years