Audio By Carbonatix
A tribute collection must be judged not on the reverence for the source material but on the overall quality of the new product. However great the influence the Carter Family had on folk country and even rock, this gathering of the usual suspects (Willie Nelson, George Jones, the late Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, etc.) paying homage to the songs of A.P. Carter must answer one simple question: Can you listen to it more than once?
Well, yes. Surprisingly, even dubious contributors such as Sheryl Crow and Kris Kristofferson detract nothing from the brilliance of the tunes. Each artist invests his or her tracks with both respect for the song and a willingness to add their own spirit to the proceedings. Crow actually makes “No Depression in Heaven” sound as if it had been written with current world events in mind. Shawn Colvin’s take on “Single Girl, Married Girl” is more vital than nearly anything she’s recorded. This may prove that it’s awfully hard to mess up a truly great song (though many have surely tried). Rural, rootsy, engaging and nearly great, the circle is sturdy in these hands.
