'from Dirty Linen (August/September 2007)

ADRIENNE YOUNG ROOM TO GROW
(Addiebelle Music - 2007)
Adrienne Young's third CD finds the Nashville-based songwriter exploring themes of sustainability and choice from a more introspective standpoint than she has on her two earlier recordings.  Committed to simple living in an ecological and agricultural sense, she understands, and shows clearly, as a theme running through the 14 songs here, that simplicity and directness are sometimes more complex than they seem in the world of human connection.  That makes her work all the more intriguing, and her strong melodic sense adds to the storytelling.  The tracks, mostly written by Young alone or co-written with A-list Nashville musician Will Kimbrough, suggest season's turns, changing, letting go, and perhaps, moving on to the next season of understanding.  That may make it sound like a quiet album, which, in fact, it isn't.  Young's bluegrass chops come through clearly and there's more than enough high-spirited music to get you up and dancing or clapping along, and more than enough substance to keep you reflecting on the lyrics long after the music's done, too.  Outstanding tracks include a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Free Man in Paris" and Young's own "In Between the Heartbeats."