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Adrienne Young - Plow to the End of the Row
by Craig Havighurst

AddieBelle Music
3 stars

Adrienne Young, a Florida native and Belmont University grad, homes in on a profound and personal style on Plow to the End of the Row, her debut solo album.

The row in the title ain't Music Row; the album evokes a sheaf of antique folk music pulled out of grandma's piano bench, a hip east Nashville cafe and an Earth mother's lullaby — all held together with red clay.

The passionate but loose Old Crow Medicine Show is one backing band, while combinations of strong Nashville pop and Americana sidemen make up the others. Music City pop wonder Will Kimbrough, in the producer's chair, contributes some of his signature melodies and songwriting ideas.

There are almost too many stylistic ideas at once here, but Young's kindly singing personality and spot-on ear for enjoyable country/folk finally hold the album together with compassion and imagination. Young does not waste any time trying to grab you with an outspoken personality. ''I am a white girl; what was I before?'' she sings at the top of opening cut I Cannot Justify. This sudden leap into race consciousness and reincarnation is both brave and abrasive, but the song holds its own.

Sadie's Song, which won Merlefest's bluegrass songwriting competition, retells a famous folk ballad from the female character's point of view with real vitality and novelty. Home Remedy is perhaps the catchiest pop song.

There are also fiddle and banjo instrumentals, some reworked traditional numbers and more arresting songs from Young and co-writers such as Mark D. Sanders and Carter Wood. The songs don't always achieve their lofty aspirations of American introspection, but Young does a striking job reaching as far as she does.