SARA WATKINS
Sun Midnight Sun
Nonesuch 530684

www.nonesuch.com
 

Sara Watkins’ latest is an adventurous delight. Compact, sitting 35 minutes, it is a diverse set of thrills end to end. Sara, of course, plays violin. Her brother Sean Watkins, a fellow alumnus of Nickel Creek with Sara, plays guitar. Producer Blake Mills plays everything else save for Benmoint Tench on keys for 4 tracks. Fiona Apple, Jackson Browne, Taylor Goldsmith and the musicians all add harmonies. Browne’s presence is no surprise as Sara has been touring with Jackson for over a year as opening act as well as playing with him in his sets — and quite impressively, too!

Sara has written or co-written seven of the ten selections including the two instrumentals here. The exceptions are a stirring, throbbing take of Felice & Boudeleaux Bryant’s “You’re the One I Love,” Willie Nelson’s “I’m a Memory and Dan Wilson’s “When It Pleases You.”

The set sports quite a pleasing variety of styles. “The Foothills” kicks off the show as an instrumental with a mountain music feel. From there the set unfolds as something of a song cycle limning a love relationship collapsing. Sara’s songs have sparse yet eloquent lyrics and catchy melodies. Charming stuff!

Sara Watkins feels like she is coming of age and into her own as an artist. Her new album is impressive both in conception and execution. Sun Midnight Sun isn’t going to overwhelm you. Instead it will likely insinuate itself into your mind and keep kicking around long after you’ve finished playing it. That, to me, is a strong recommendation.

— Michael Tearson