The album opens with “Stardust
Firefly,” an excellent and compelling song. There is a steady rhythm at its
base, and some wonderful work on dobro over that. Of course, it is her vocals
that are the main focus, and she gives an honest, passionate delivery. “I can see forever in your eyes/To the
heavens I will speak your name.” I also really like that “La-la la-la la” part, which is catchy.
This track also features some nice touches on harmonica. That’s followed by “Hard
Work Of Love,” a beautiful and moving track with a lot of soul, both in Ynana’s
lead vocals and in the backing vocals (which are performed by Ynana Rose and
Holly Ann Lewis). There is also some good work on electric guitar here. “And I don’t give a damn/About a shower of
diamonds/Or a pocketful of gold/Oh but baby, when I’m falling/Give me a steady
hand to hold.” Then “Sugar On The Vine” has a lively vibe, due in part to
that percussion and in part to her bright vocal delivery. Also, this song
features banjo. “When the world’s gone
crazy, I need simple things.” Oh yes. And, yes, the world has gone crazy.
But maybe, just maybe, we are finally nearing the end of the Donald Trump
disaster, and we can begin to put the country back together.
“Mendocino Sunrise” is gorgeous
and somewhat haunting at moments, a song to pull you into another realm,
something that is more and more desirable these days. And check out these lines: “I come to the ocean with my sorrow in the
dark/I hear your voice in the motion of the tides.” Part of the beauty of
this song comes from the presence of Bob Liepman on cello, an instrument that I
always find incredibly effective and touching. “Mendocino Sunrise” was written
by Ynana Rose and Damon Castillo. That’s followed by the album’s only cover, a
delightful rendition of Lefty Frizzell’s “I Want To Be With You Always.” We are
now obviously firmly in country territory, and this rendition features some
wonderful work by Tammy Rogers on fiddle. A very different type of
fiddle-playing graces the cool “Impossible,” a tune with a delicious old-time jazzy
European vibe. That’s Brynn Albanese on violin. Duane Inglish plays accordion
on this track. This tune also features some excellent lyrics, such as these
lines: “My foolish heart serenading the
stars/Writing love letters to the moon/I lost and yet I’ll never regret/My
impossible dream of you.” And I dig Dominic Castillo’s work on guitar. This
is my favorite track.
“Leave Me Lonely” is a sweet-sounding
country tune of heartache, featuring more good work on fiddle by Tammy Rogers.
Bill Flores is on pedal steel. “When you
wrap your arms around me, no place I’d rather be/But you’re keeping your love
locked away, and I can’t find the key.” The album then concludes with “Thin
White Line,” a more serious number that begins with Ynana’s vocals prominent in
the mix, pulling us in, the guitar somewhat deeper in the background, softly
backing her up. Then the band comes in. It is a song of pain and forgiveness. “The world will let you down/But as long as
it’s spinning ‘round/You can choose which way to turn/And cross that line when
you learn.”
CD Track List
- Stardust Firefly
- Hard Work Of Love
- Sugar On The Vine
- The Gift Of A Song
- Mendocino Sunrise
- I Want To Be With You Always
- Impossible
- Lillian
- Love Song To A Hummingbird
- Leave Me Lonely
- Thin White Line
Tea Leaf Confessions was released on November 16, 2018.
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