Thinking of You
Surprises abound on the first release in six years from Chicago's Freakwater. Though the Appalachian-style harmonies of Catherine Irwin and Janet Beveridge Bean remain the heart of the band's sound,Thinking of Youextends the sonic range well beyond purism or revivalism. With the backing of labelmatesCalifoneand an eclectic group of supporting musicians, the arrangements employ everything from a bass clarinet solo on "Buckets of Oil" to a musical saw on "Jack the Knife" (no relation to Mack) to a pump organ on the country waltz of "Cricket vs. Ant." While "Jewel" sounds like it might have come from the early songbook ofDolly Parton, the closing "Hi Ho Silver" could pass as a druggy ballad from the '70sRolling Stones. Following solo albums by Irwin and Bean, both singer-songwriters have brought strong material (maybe their strongest to date) and fresh inspiration back to the Freakwater table.--Don McLeese