Finding Beauty Among the Ashes with Beth Nielsen Chapman

Beth Nielsen Chapman
“Sand and Water”
Reprise Records
1997

Beth Nielsen Chapman knows a lot about songwriting, having written or co-written for some of the most beloved artists in music. From Alabama to Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Bette Midler, and Michael W. Smith, she has established herself as a respected songstress and artist in her own right. Like all great songwriters, she writes about everything that makes life the wonderfully complex experience we all share. In 1994, life dealt her what must have seemed like a cruel hand with the loss of her husband to cancer, and yet, out of immense personal loss, she gave the world a remarkable gift with her 1997 album “Sand and Water.”

Make no mistake, what we have here isn’t an artist's embarrassingly sentimental indulgence. This collection of songs is entirely relatable, as Chapman’s well-executed statements reflect our own life journey. It is a beautiful, thoughtful statement that explores the many conflicting emotions we all experience during times of personal loss while seeking to find our way back to hope and joy.

“The Color of Roses" is a delicate piano piece with strings arranged and conducted by Michael Omartian that looks for meaning in loss. Michael McDonald adds lovely backing vocals to “Seven Shades of Blue,” evoking nostalgia for past days filled with love and tenderness. “Beyond the Blue” conveys a profound longing and a desire to reconnect with what has been lost. “All the Time in the World" reflects on how quickly time slips away in our busy lives, especially when we think about the moments spent with loved ones. “These precious days we experience, discarded like tissue, I wish I could offer you all the time in the world."

The eloquent beauty of the title track, “Sand and Water,” encapsulates the album's essence: love, loss, mortality, our place in this vast universe, and the hope of something more. Such matters have rarely been explored with the beauty and vulnerability presented here, resulting in an ultimately uplifting and enduring package.

Beth Hart Reaches That Elusive Good Place on "Better Than Home"

Beth Hart
“Better Than Home"
Provogue Records
2015

California blues powerhouse Beth Hart has released passionate blues, rock, and R&B albums since 1993. She shares honest and heartfelt stories of life's trials, drawing from her personal struggles with addiction and bipolar disorder. She presents songs with grit and intensity reminiscent of Janis Joplin. Hart has achieved sobriety in recent years and received well-deserved Blues Music Awards for over a decade. Often touring with Joe Bonamassa, she has garnered an impressive international following.

According to Hart, her 2015 release “Better Than Home” was recorded under "painful" circumstances in five days. Producer Michael Stevens battled cancer, while Hart faced stress and mental health issues. None of this prevented her from delivering an outstanding artistic statement. These self-penned tracks form a collection that celebrates reaching that elusive good place of peace in one’s life and holding on. “We’re Still Living in the City," and the title track reflect this, while “Trouble” and “The Mood I’m In” focus on letting go and enjoying oneself. “Mechanical Heart” explores the pursuit of love in the face of our flaws and failures.

The album finishes with the touching and heartfelt track “Mama, This One’s for You.” In this song, an adult reflects on her growing appreciation for her mother through life’s experiences, highlighting the renewed importance of their relationship. Notable tracks include "Might as Well Smile" and "As Long as I Have a Song."

Station Road Delivers Real Rock 'n' Roll on “Whiskey Eyes”

Station Road
“Whiskey Eyes”
Independent
2025

Do you remember when rock ‘n’ roll was fun? Back before keyboards took over in the 1980s and autotune had yet to emerge? A time when new music on the radio was the soundtrack to your life, and you felt everything with an intensity that is hard to imagine today? While great hidden treasures are released every year, there is a shortage of new good-time rock ‘n’ roll. Finding such a release today is rare and feels like falling in love for the first time. Australian band Station Road’s debut album “Whiskey Eyes” is that gem and deserves recognition.

Two of this album's standout tracks are "Smoke in the Dark," which evokes a past love that lingers sweetly, and "Still Burning On," a poignant song of longing for a lost love and the agonizing pain of knowing his beloved is with another. But WAIT! Our hero reclaims the lady fair, and together they flee into the night. Now, isn't that rock 'n' roll?

This project is squarely rock for adults, as three songs, “Your Mother & Me,” “Till Your Wings Can Fly,” and “Chase Your Fire,” are from a parent’s perspective. These adult sensibilities are lovingly expressed by a person still in touch with their own youthful pursuits and perils. "Chase Your Fire" is a father's thoughtful admonition to his son to follow their passions and dreams. This is a beautiful sentiment in the spirit of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young."

The guitar-driven “Outlaws on the Run” continues the theme of breaking the rules for whatever fleeting passion may bring. "Get Off My Back" is a parting of the ways declaration, complete with a brief rap. The title track, "Whiskey Eyes," recalls more young love and heartbreak.
 
The album closes with "Living The '90s Aussie Dream." This brings back memories of misspent youth and good times with friends. Although not my decade, it evokes the universal nostalgia most of us feel for our teenage years. Whether it's Big Star's "In the Street" or "Living the '90s Dream Aussie Dream," it takes one back to a time and place of dreams and endless possibilities.
 
As of this writing, I can find very little information about Station Road. This is the Australian band, not to be confused with other bands by the same name. Oscar Hose is the apparent creative force, who is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. It is unclear if Hose played all the instruments on "Whiskey Eyes," but this is my assumption, pending clarification. In the meantime, this is likely my pick for best Rock album of 2025.

Finding Gold in Mariposa County

Bootstrap Circus
“Painted Face”
(self-released)
2011

Adam Burns grew up in the rural Peak District National Park in England. He moved to the United States in 2004 and today makes his home, creates music, and teaches in the one-time gold rush town of Mariposa, California. Burns has created music in various incarnations over the years; first as a solo artist, as the Adam Burns Band, which became Bootstrap Circus, and most recently in the duo Little Tiger.

Burns' rock and new wave influences, combined with his energetic powerhouse of a band, have created an upbeat and highly contagious sound on Bootstrap Circus’ third release, “Painted Face.” Burns' lyrics come alive through each band member’s contributions to the arrangements, skillfully creating a unique sound that is engaging and often joyful.

The collective talents of Burns on guitar and vocals, Kristin Ramsey on violin, vocals, and keyboards, Greg Archer on bass, and Mark Albosta on drums are truly special. From the opening notes of the gypsy sway of “Dirty Water,” with its strains of surf guitar and soaring violin, there’s a sense of embarking on a journey. “Don't Rock the Heater” is a plea to a restless youth, prone to trouble, to not "rock the heater, Jimmy Jones." This is followed by the beautiful "Sunsets And Shooting Stars," a straightforward song of love and devotion.

"The Dark Waltz" is a slow, moody, and mysterious piece elevated by Ramseya's violin. "Drink" is a devil-may-care romp through a wild night of debauchery and treacherous encounters. Meanwhile, "Brenda, The Teenage Arsonist" reflects on the secret passions of an outsider."You're Not Alone" and "Don't Call Me Zero" confront fascism. This is balanced by the light-hearted revelry of "Down In the Alley," declaring "I've got everything I'll ever need." 

With haunting strains of the guitar work of Duane Eddy, "The Godless Girl" depicts a small-town girl's rude awakening in the big city, and the closing title track continues this theme with its refrain "Oh Mama, there's no shame in what I've done." While this is a comedown from where the album began, it doesn't badly mar the project; it simply demonstrates that even a gifted songwriter like Burns can sometimes paint himself into a corner. This is the point where I return to track one and restart this enjoyable, if bumpy ride.

Kate Wolf's Music Still Resonates

Kate Wolf
“Poet’s Heart”
Kaleidoscope Records
1985

During her brief career, Kate Wolf released five studio albums and one double live album. “Poet’s Heart” was her final release during her lifetime. I was privileged to see Kate perform in the fall of 1985 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Although her music was new to me, I was charmed by her solo performance in this historic venue. As she stood onstage with her guitar, all eyes and ears were entirely focused on the captivating presence of the gentle poet. I sensed that this was something special. She had a way of drawing one into the stories of the lives and places she sang about with sincerity that was mesmerizing and poignant.

In the days following the concert, I acquired her entire catalog and was thrilled to have discovered such a remarkable talent. Weeks later, the news of her battle with leukemia became public, and I was devastated. She passed from this life at the age of 44 on December 10, 1986, leaving behind a body of work that is to be treasured.

“Poet’s Hart” is an album of honesty and vulnerability, with a depth and precision that disarm with its understanding of the subtleties of our lives. “All He Ever Saw Was You” tells the story of a conflicted musician’s devotion to his craft and the woman he loved more than he could convey. “In China or a Woman's Heart (There are Places No One Knows)” she explores the deeper meaning of a keepsake and the innermost mysteries and secrets kept in the heart. In “Slender Thread’ she sings of the fragility of love: “Sometimes the strongest love hangs by such a slender thread.”

Kate Wolf was on the verge of breaking through to a larger audience, having appeared on Austin City Limits and A Prairie Home Companion just before the onset of her illness. The Kate Wolf Music Festival was founded in 1996 by Kate’s family and friends in collaboration with Cloud Moss and the event management company Cumulus Presents. It ran from 1996 to 2022. During its 25-year run, artists such as Taj Mahal, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Dar Williams, Neko Case, and a breathtaking list of other notable musicians have performed at the event.

In 1998, Red House Records released “Treasures Left Behind... Remembering Kate Wolf,” a tribute album featuring some of her most beloved songs. Among the collection's highlights are Dave Alvin’s performance of “These Times We're Living In” and Kathy Mattea’s “Give Yourself to Love.” Nanci Griffith, Greg Brown, Ferron, Emmylou Harris, Nina Gerber, Terry Garthwaite, and others each honor the artist as they keep this special music alive.

Navigating Life's Invisible Forces with The Whispering Tree

The Whispering Tree
“Invisible Forces”
Eyelash Soup Music LLC
2018

With the promise of a new album release later this year, it seems like a good time to revisit The Whispering Tree’s 2018 second album, “Invisible Forces.” The name The Whispering Tree evokes an image of wind-kissed leaves gently in motion, as if nature’s voice were delivering a message. This moniker, along with all the mysterious wonders and delights it suggests, is fitting for the genre-bending duo of classically trained vocalist/pianist Eleanor Kleiner and guitarist/bassist Elie Brangbour.

Make no mistake, these highly intelligent musicians are deep thinkers; they express themselves without self-consciousness or apologies, as none is necessary when done with such artistry and precision. With only eight songs and a runtime of just over half an hour, this album demonstrates that brevity is the soul of wit. In this concise package, they succeed in exploring the human condition from various angles and articulating some of our deepest fears. However, fear not; the stunning vocals and collective efforts of the duo and their band are never dull or tedious.

Beginning with “These Houses,” the lyricist contemplates the deterioration of dwellings whose previous inhabitants are no longer present, “returning to the earth like growing in reverse,” serving as a metaphor for life itself. “Heavy” is a weight-of-the-world ballad contrasted by “California’s” hopeful longing for a new beginning and starting one’s life anew.

“Fat Cat” calls out wealth and privilege and wonders, “How do you sleep?” as it rhythmically confronts an egotistical, greed-driven figure in their survival-of-the-fittest world. The marvelous bass-driven “Split in Half” captures the isolation we can feel within our communities and even inside our own homes.

“Garden” is by far the darkest offering here, with its apocalyptic vision of a scorched and ruined earth. Remembering all the wonders lost, it’s a vivid, startling lamentation delivered with beautiful, haunting guitar and piano. By contrast, “Bells'” hopeful declaration, “I hear bells ringing for change,” concludes the album with a positive song that would fit comfortably on a playlist alongside Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.” While this collection of songs navigates some turbulent waters, the enduring hope for a better tomorrow is ultimately within reach. 

Appalachian Bluegrass from the UK

Jaywalkers
“Move On”
Burnt Chilli Records
2025

The Jaywalkers released their debut album, “16 Miles,” as a duo in 2010, featuring songwriter Mike Govern on mandolin and Jay Bradberry on fiddle and vocals. They soon invited Lucille Williams, the album's guest bassist, to join the group, creating a trio. The UK-based threesome has refined and perfected their Appalachian Americana sound through extensive touring and recording.

On their fifth album, “Move On,” the Jaywalkers continue to pay loving homage to classic Appalachian bluegrass with original songs, two well-chosen covers, and two instrumentals. The songs “Move On” and “Gone Forever” beautifully capture the essence of saying goodbye. Lead singer Jay Bradberry showcases her natural versatility on Ricky Skaggs’ “Highway 40 Blues" and their refreshing take on the blues standard “Ain't Nobody's Business.” In the collection's finest moment, “The Longest Day” finds solace in love’s embrace during difficult times.

This masterful blend of folk and bluegrass is brought to life by the exceptional contributions of guest musicians Rob Ickes on dobro, Trey Hensley on guitar, Josh Clark on drums, and Stu Williams on banjo and guitar. The Jaywalkers are available on all major streaming platforms, including Bandcamp. Enjoy!