Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

After their adventures with the Cowboy Junkies Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, known and loved as Over The Rhine, returned to Ohio and started writing and recording. The result is a very satisfying 20 songs, all featuring the lovely voice of Karin that sounds like iced honey with understated melodies that you find yourself humming for the rest of the day. Much of the album is Over The Rhine unplugged for which the credit goes to Paul Mahern at Echo Park. According to Linford’s sleeve notes they would run through what they thought was a rehearsal and Paul would say, “It's done.” And, by and large, the principle of less is more has worked. The songs are uncluttered with room to breathe and Jesus keeps appearing in unexpected places. It’s a journey into Americana with flavours of Southern gospel, rock and roll and country - both traditional and alternative. As Linford puts it, America is a surreal musical world where Elvis is King but Jesus is Lord.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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