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ADRIENNE YOUNG
INSTEAD OF BEING MADE... MAKE YOURSELF


This statement graces the inside of Adrienne Young's debut CD 'Plow to theEnd of the Row' (AddieBelle). Having grown up at home with lots of music,the singer/musician from Florida joined pop combo Liters of Pop. However, collaborating with Ketch Secor of alt.country/roots group Old Crow Medicine Show and Nashville singer/songwriter Will Kimbrough lead to a change in style. Young draws from traditionals, covers, and songs co-written with friends (Kimbrough, Carter Wood, Mark D. Sanders, Alice Randell, Courtney Little), and the resulting mix is a great result. Not that the past has been completely erased: 'Poison' is a rebuilt rock song à la U2 or Marah. It's followed by two songs in a poppy rock style: 'Her Eyes Were Watching God' and 'Blinded by Stars.'

Following this, Young fully embraces roots from times past: folksongs with country and bluegrass influences in the genre of Be Good Tanyas, Gillian Welch, and the Carter Family. These four songs are really different than the beginning of the album, where Young demonstrates her exemplary collaboration with Kimbrough in three melodic roots songs: the uptempo start with a bluegrass/blues feel ('I Cannot Justify') is followed by two glorious duets (country rock song 'Home Remedy' and the quiet title track - a highlight). After these, Adrienne feels it's high time for a little mountain music. This all combines to make 'Plow to the End of the Row' an extremely adventurous record.


4 out of 5 horses (i.e. 'good')
Bart Ebisch
altcountry.nl