Music in High Places - Shawn Colvin (Live in Bora Bora)
Shawn Colvin's personalized brand of acoustic folk finds a pleasing counterpoint in her destination in the Music in High Places series: the island paradises Bora Bora and Tahiti. Wandering around the islands and interacting with the locals, Colvin also finds time to sing several of her tunes in eye-catching locales such as Bora Bora's deep blue surf ("Diamond in the Rough") and Tahiti's beaches ("Kill the Messenger"). Playing songs like "Tennessee" accompanied by native drummers and trying to keep up with local ukulele players on an impromptu version of "Stand by Me," Colvin is obviously having a great time, literally taking her musicianship to places it's never been. Colvin's best songs, "Polaroids" and "Sunny Came Home," take on new life in their stripped-down versions, and the singer's wry sense of humor and stage presence--not obvious on her recordings or videos--also come to the fore, particularly in the bonus behind-the-scenes footage.--Kevin Filipski