Zoe & Cloyd: “I Am Your Neighbor” (2019) CD Review

Zoe & Cloyd is the duo of Natalya Zoe Weinstein on fiddle and vocals and John Cloyd Miller on guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals. The latest release of this Asheville-based married couple, I Am Your Neighbor, features a good mix of original songs and traditional material, with them sharing lead vocals. This is the duo’s third album, following 2017’s Eyes Brand New, and on this album they deliver bluegrass music that touches on some serious and timely subjects, things that are on our minds quite a bit these days. Joining them are Bennett Sullivan on banjo and guitar, and Kevin Kehrberg on upright bass.

I Am Your Neighbor opens with an original tune titled “Looking Out For You And Me,” a lively and powerful song that should speak to most people, its lyrics about how greed guides the decisions of those in power, leading to the destruction of the environment. “‘Til someone saw a dollar sign/Now there’s nothing left to see/Something irreplaceable was lost there to their greed.” This line also stands out: “And who is left to turn to when the leaders mislead.” Perhaps politicians have always been corrupt, always been greedy and short-sighted, but the corruption has never been greater and more dangerous than now. Let’s hope the election later this year will remove Trump and all those who support him. This one was written by John Cloyd Miller, who sings lead on it. That’s followed by “Neighbor,” with Zoe taking lead vocal duties. It is a song about reaching out to folks, something that feels more necessary than ever before, and yet also more difficult than ever before. After all, who wants to extend a hand to a Trump supporter? This song provides the album with its title in the lines “We might be different/But I am your neighbor/There’s things about me you may not understand/Don’t be afraid.” And check out these lines: “You don’t see me, but I have my dreams too/Just like your dreams, they’ve traveled so far/Your constellations, they are my constellations/Here now together we count the same stars.” This song has a sweet and positive vibe, which is incredibly appealing. “Neighbor” was written by John Cloyd Miller, Natalya Weinstein and Kari Sickenberger, and is one of my favorite tracks.

We then move into the traditional material, with “Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down,” which has a more serious, somber tone. Zoe sings lead on this track, and also delivers some excellent work on fiddle. That’s followed by another traditional number, “Berditchever Sher,” a wonderful instrumental tune that feels designed to transport you from your troubles, and is one of the disc’s highlights. Cloyd then sings lead on “The Past Keeps Getting In The Way,” a pretty song that he wrote with Mark Bumgarner. This song has a gentle sound and vibe, with some absolutely gorgeous work on fiddle. Lyrically, this is one of the album’s strongest tracks as well. Here is a taste: “I thought I felt a change of seasons coming/But I don’t know if I ever will believe/Any port in a storm, still I see daylight through the grey/But the past keeps getting in the way.” Cloyd also sings lead on “Rising Waters,” another song for our times. These are its opening lines: “You’ll get by/So will we/May not be the world we knew/Some say it’s too late/We’ve set the course somehow/We’re in it now.” I keep wondering if it’s too late to solve the climate troubles, and it terrifies and infuriates me that the current government refuses to address the crisis. Still, this song has its own undeniable beauty, and is of course engaging both emotionally and intellectually.

“Only Game In Town” is a more lively and bright number, written by John Cloyd Miller, who sings lead. “Now some folks think I’m just a fool/But no matter how it sounds/Trying to keep from losing you/It’s the only game in town.” This track features some excellent instrumental sections, including some wonderful work on banjo and a cool solo on bass. That’s followed by the disc’s final cover, “Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still,” a slower, pretty number that was composed by W.T. Wrighton and J.E. Carpenter, with Cloyd on lead vocals. “Build Me Up” is a sweet and positive folk number written by John Cloyd Miller and Natalya Weinstein, featuring some nice harmonies. “Are we making up or making believe/Build me up/Don’t cut me down/You’re the one I need right now/When my feet won’t touch the ground.” This track features some good work on guitar. It’s followed by “Zisa Meydele,” a pretty instrumental track, one to transport you to another place, another time, something that is incredibly appealing these days. Written by John Cloyd Miller and Natalya Weinstein, this is another of my favorite tracks. I love that work on fiddle. The album then concludes with “No Difference,” a mellow and thoughtful and rather sad song written by John Cloyd Miler. “For what it’s worth, there were some good times/Conversation and lots of laughs/There was a time when we laid it on the line/But the ship was sinking fast.”

CD Track List

1. Looking Out For You And Me
2. Neighbor
3. Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down
4. Berditchever Sher
5. The Past Keeps Getting In The Way
6. Rising Waters
7. Only Game In Town
8. Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still
9. Build Me Up
10. Zisa Meydele
11. No Difference 

I Am Your Neighbor was released on September 27, 2019 on Organic Records.