This is definitely music for a small neighborhood coffeehouse or the house band in a quiet little bar. It just flows along like water. The harmonies are closely matched, the tunes play well and the lyrics fit. You can almost hear the clink of glass in the background between tracks.

Barbara Musselman (vocals), George Seeds (mandolin and harmonica) and Bob Esbenshade (guitar and vocals) are Lingering Doubts. John Caldwell appears on violin and cello, Jeff Coleman plays accordion on two cuts and Bill Grabowski joins in on organ for one song. Steve Kurtz provides the vocals for "A River Ran Dry." It's a good mix that works quite well.

Musselman's voice is clear and strong. No hurried or garbled lyrics, which is quite helpful since the lyrics aren't on the liner. She shines best on "Fly Away," which she wrote (the only tune on the CD not written by Esbenshade). The tune has a bit of a hillbilly kick that causes your toe to start tapping. "I have lived long enough to know sometimes we must set each other free. To me you're the bird with the broken wing, longing to fly to the sea. So heal and fly away, fly through the sky, fly until you see that there's a way to return to love. Please find your way back to me."

Not only did Esbenshade write the remaining eleven songs, he also sings them. And he supplied the basement where the CD was recorded. He's handy as well as talented. He sings "Homeless of the Brave," a song about a group of homeless Viet Nam vets suffering through a nasty and bitter winter on the street, as if he lived along sidethem. It'll get you thinking.

Great vocals aside, my favorite cut is the CD's only instrumental, "Evening Sun," which rolls along like ocean waves and is the best tune for picking out the mandolin.

[ by Sheree Morrow ]
Rambles: 12 January 2002