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Music Review: Dar Williams - "The Beauty of the Rain"
Dar Williams has really hit her stride on this, her fifth album (not counting her live record "Out There"). For the
first time in Dar's career, the musicians and production of the album keep up with and shine alongside her quirky but extraordinary
writing.
Dar Williams has always been interesting to me. Her lyrics have always reminded me of some of the better poetry students I had
classes in college with. Written from a new-agey hippie perspective, Dar's lyrics are
always honest and often beautiful. I have no idea where Dar stands spiritually, but that doesn't take away from the
impact of the music. Beauty is beauty.
The first real highlight of this record comes on the first single; "I saw a bird fly away" which is a duet with
Jon Popper of Blues Traveler. He not only adds his trademark harmonica but also adds a fine vocal. Next, on the
title track, we hear these lyrics:
And there's nothing wrong but there is something more
And sometimes you wonder what you love her for
She says you've known her deepest fears
Cause she's shown you a box of stained glass tears
It can't be all... the truth about the rain is how it falls, how it falls, how it falls.
Reminiscent of "February" from her Mortal City album, Dar has the wonderful ability to take a
snapshot of a relationship that is falling apart and turn it into a song.
Other highlights here are "The one who Knows" with Alison Krauss and "Fishing in the Morning", a simple song about
well, fishing in the morning.
The album stumbles a bit on the lyrically drippy "your fire, your soul" and on a misguided cover of The Band's "Whispering
Pines" but overall, this is an enjoyable record.
Dar Williams isn't for everyone. Her hippie / eastern religion leanings may be offsetting to some (and at times, they are to me as well)
but if you can get past that, there is beauty to be found.
Review by Greg Adkins
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