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First of all let me say that I have a major complaint about this release, it's only 40 minutes long and that is not nearly long enough. Having gotten that off of my chest, let's get on to the good stuff. Sarah is one of a group of New York City based artists who are making quite an impact in this area of the country. She has a smooth alto voice that can melt butter and a smile that lights up any room she is in. Her work is not so much song writing as it is the telling of short stories set to music. These stories remind me of the writing of  Flannery O'Conner, a Southern writer who Bill Mallonee turned me onto a number of years ago. The characters in both the stories of Flannery and the songs of Sarah are full of hurt and broken people, the same kind of people that we meet everyday in real life in New York City.

In the song "Man and Women" she writes,"30 years now, the wrinkles show their markings. All alone now, the children had their parting. Back to square one, they're still wanting what they're wanting. They've lost their flame and spark. Is it time for their own parting? As a man and a woman ". In the song called,"Just Yesterday" she sings,"Never thought that I would be here, darkest place. He never showed me to the door. Had to find my own way out of the maze. I won't go there anymore". Yet even in the darkness, there is a glimmer of undeniable hope, in the midst of tales of hurt and unrequited love, there is the hope of eternal love. The question is raised, "When will the lion lay with the lamb?

Besides being a great lyricist, Sarah is also a wiz on the piano. After seeing her in concert recently, my son himself a gifted pianist, commented on how good a player she was. "She did things with timing that I sure couldn't do" he said. Produced by Mark Zubek and mixed by Roman Klun this is one of the best albums of 2000. It made my top 5 of the year with no problem at all. It would have been nice though if it had been a double disc, because one just isn't enough. My favorite cuts are: "No Going Home," "Just Yesterday," and "Sailor Song." 

Chris MacIntosh aka Grandfather Rock 12/19/2000