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Associated Press review of "The Art of Virtue"
7/1/2005
Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, ``The Art of Virtue'' (Addiebelle Records)
Adrienne Young reinvents traditional fiddle tunes, the Grateful Dead, the writings of Benjamin Franklin and the meaning of morality and faith on her outstanding second release, ``The Art of Virtue.'' Its a stellar mix, a new kind of old-time music for the 21st century.
It doesnt hurt that she's got Nashville's No. 1 secret weapon, Will Kimbrough, lending a hand as he did on her fine debut album, ``Plow to the End of the Row.'' But this is Young's vision come to life, whether she's performing the Dead's ``Brokedown Palace,'' the gospel standard ``Farther Along'' or one of the many original songs that appear on ``The Art of Virtue.''
Its those original songs that really set Young apart. Plenty of people do a wonderful job of crossing musical boundaries. But Young manages to tackle difficult subjects (war, God, politics and SUVs among them) in her lyrics without ever turning off the listener. She evokes a simpler, agrarian age without sounding nostalgic. Instead, she looks to that past for ways to reimagine the future. ``The Art of Virtue'' has the feel of a work that will be meaningful well into that future.
ò Eric Fidler, for The Associated Press
Adrienne Young reinvents traditional fiddle tunes, the Grateful Dead, the writings of Benjamin Franklin and the meaning of morality and faith on her outstanding second release, ``The Art of Virtue.'' Its a stellar mix, a new kind of old-time music for the 21st century.
It doesnt hurt that she's got Nashville's No. 1 secret weapon, Will Kimbrough, lending a hand as he did on her fine debut album, ``Plow to the End of the Row.'' But this is Young's vision come to life, whether she's performing the Dead's ``Brokedown Palace,'' the gospel standard ``Farther Along'' or one of the many original songs that appear on ``The Art of Virtue.''
Its those original songs that really set Young apart. Plenty of people do a wonderful job of crossing musical boundaries. But Young manages to tackle difficult subjects (war, God, politics and SUVs among them) in her lyrics without ever turning off the listener. She evokes a simpler, agrarian age without sounding nostalgic. Instead, she looks to that past for ways to reimagine the future. ``The Art of Virtue'' has the feel of a work that will be meaningful well into that future.
ò Eric Fidler, for The Associated Press
