Reviews

Artist:Becky Schlegel
Album:For All The World To See
Label:Lilly Ray
Tracks:11
Website:http://www.beckyschlegel.com

For All The World To See is Becky Schlegel's third CD, although it is her first national release. Throughout the CD she is accompanied by her very talented band; Brian Fesler on banjo, Gordon Johnson on bass, Bo Ramsey on electric guitar, Marc Anderson on percussion and Jeff Midkiff on mandolin. Together they provide wonderful instrumentation and add their own layers to this collection of music, giving it greater depth, which cannot help but draw the listener in.

Often compared with Alison Krauss and Claire Lynch, it is easy to identify why as Schlegel moves between upbeat songs and poignant ballads. The first single from the CD, Bound For Tennessee is the kind of song which really ought to find itself on country radio and the title track, For All the World to See, despite being a fairly typical country song, aches with regret that a relationship didn't work out; something to which I am sure we can all relate as we listen. Lonely and 99% allow us to really appreciate the beauty of her voice, whilst Best Time Of Day and I Need Your Love expertly switch the tone of the album as we move into bluegrass music, allowing Becky to show a different side of her voice. Standout tracks for me include Jenny, Sound of Your Voice and The Hills of South Dakota.

What I find really refreshing about this release, is that rather than trying to fit into one category to be 'accepted,' Becky Schlegel seems to have found her way to making music which crosses the lines between the country/bluegrass/Americana genres and, moreover, she has made it work.

Helen Mitchell

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