A Flannery O'Connor quotation on the sleeve of Kate Campbell's fourth album Rosaryville is a fair indication of what goes on inside. Campbell is a literary southern singer songwriter who tells ordinary stories of everyday lives and always brings a depth charge of truth to bear, all with a spiritual twist. Rosaryville is her most fulfilled work to date.
There are the tales; Rosa a cigar roller ("Rosa's Coronas"); a mother about to leave her son an orphan ("Who Will Pray for Junior"); brother Joseph building the wonders of the world in his own backyard ("Ave Maria Grotto"); and Kate herself and her relationship with home ("In My Mother's House"). There are the one line pearls of simple yet profound wisdom; "It's a long and slow surrender, retreating from the past" ("Look Away"), "Some like to hear themselves talk but seldom say anything at all" ("Heart of Hearts"); "And when time erodes everything man-made, true devotion will still remain" ("Ave Maria Grotto"). This lady is Nanci Griffith with depth and bite. Brilliant songs, brilliantly executed. Let's hope they don't go brilliantly unheard.
4.5 tocks
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