The album opens with "Right On Through," which begins with some pretty guitar work and soon some gorgeous vocal work. Cristina Vane joins the duo on harmony vocals, adding another beautiful layer. This song takes us to an event in 1989, a train accident in Montana. "That sound was so loud, it shook the whole town/The end of the world coming true/When that winter wind comes, there's nowhere to run/She'll do what she's gonna do." These lines also stand out: "When that wind of change comes, she don't let you run/Until she's done breaking your heart." Greg Leisz provides some really nice work on pedal steel, helping to create the song's compelling and appealing atmosphere. Daniel Kleederman joins them on electric guitar. Then at the beginning of "Golden Hill," Joselyn sings, "I need a town with mystery/Aging ways that speak to me/Stories in bricks that I can read." I think all towns can hold some mystery, but I understand the allure of a place with history as well as mystery. And there is something appealing about a brick structure, something that draws me back east. Then she asks, "How could that be anywhere but Golden Hill?" At a time when I'm wondering if I'll be able to stay in Los Angeles, and considering what elements would be important to me when choosing another home, this song grabs me. This song features a string section, adding to its warmth. Mica Nafshun-Bone is on violin, Kate Brown is on violin, Jason Polychronakos is on viola, and Judah Groveman is on cello. And just when I'm thinking I could be happy elsewhere, in the next song, Joselyn sings, "But I know I've got to get back to L.A.," and I think about all the wonderful benefits of living in this city. The "doo-doo" vocal part reminds me just a bit of The Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset."
Chris Pierce joins them on "Choose Love," not only adding his great voice to this track, but also playing harmonica. I love the whole vibe of this song, a song ready to sink its fangs into any obstacle. There is something of the blues here, and certainly some darker elements, yet it's a song about choosing love, something that is more and more of a challenge these days. And there is a great, positive energy to this song. Bridget Graham provides some backing vocal work to this one. That's followed by the album's only cover, "Seminole Wind," a song that Jon Langford and Sally Timms sometimes cover. It was written by John Anderson. These guys deliver a good rendition, featuring some wonderful work by Mica Mafshun-Bone on fiddle. Liz Irons provides backing vocals here.
It's interesting to me how many songs take place at 4 a.m., certainly more than any other time. It's a time of darkness, a time just before the new day begins, the last hour when you might still be able to hold onto the previous day. And on this album, Joselyn and Don give us a song titled "4 AM." "Four AM feels like a drug/Waking me up with everything that I'm scared of." Those are some good opening lines. For months, I had a strange, recurring nightmare about a spider (I'm not even afraid of spiders, but the dream was strange for other reasons), and it would wake me at exactly 4 a.m. each night. "The world keeps on spinning no matter how you fret/So hush-a-bye, my dear, the night ain't over yet." There is an interesting beauty to this song, particularly in Joselyn's vocal performance. That's followed by "What Are We Doing Here." "But she's got dreams and a guitar, gonna take 'em on the road/'Cause nothing in this whole wide world can settle a restless soul." These lines speak to us, no matter what our specific dreams might be. This is a song for all of us who've asked ourselves, "What are we doing here?" Greg Leisz delivers strong work on pedal steel.
"Workin' The Hi-Line" is a song about an immigrant, sung from that person's perspective, not taking place in our current, ugly times, but rather in the early nineteen hundreds. It's about settling in, working, and making this country one's own. "This country is my home now and this is where I'll die/Under the big Montana sky." I wonder how immigrants feel these days. It seems that others make it impossible for them to embrace this country as their own, which is so sad. This track features some good work on guitar. That's followed by the album's title track, "Lost & Found Highway," which begins with these lines: "Somewhere on these roads I could lose myself a little/Somewhere on these roads I'll make it right/I could drive right through the night if I keep it in the middle/Chasing down a peace I'll never find." There is usually something quite appealing about being on the road in song, but here it is questionable. It could go either way. And while traveling is appealing, so is going home. "I guess I'm always leaving 'cause it's easier to do/I never stick around to do the hard work/To see it through." And she asks, "How does it feel to know your place?" Joselyn and Don wrap up the album with "Rock And Roll Heart," an original song, not to be confused with the Eric Clapton number, and featuring Abby Posner on harmony vocals and guitar. The song's first stanza stands out to me: "I heard it on the news this morning/Another legend passed away/And I was struck with the memory/Of the last time I ever saw him play/So I put those records on, I'm wrapped up in a song/In my mind he's never truly gone." The year 2016 was the worst in that regard; it seemed every day we lost an important musician (including Leonard Cohen, Leon Russell, David Bowie, Merle Haggard, Paul Kantner, Guy Clark). But since then, so many more have been taken from us. This song is needed for all of us who find ourselves missing certain artists who have been important in our lives. "From Amy to Zevon, from Aretha to the Ramones/I just need to hear that first note, and I feel like I'm coming home." The music lives on.
CD Track List
- Right On Through
- Golden Hill
- Girl From The Mountain
- Choose Love
- Seminole Wind
- Four AM
- What Are We Doing Here
- Workin' The Hi-Line
- Lost & Found Highway
- Rock And Roll Heart
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