Claire Lynch - Lovelight (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

Front Porch light still shines brightly

Ian Clarke | northern ireland | 05/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a grower. Initially I felt it was a bit too country - ballads like "Sweethearts Again" and "Blue Water Holler" are quite Dolly Parton and "Missionary Ridge" is an Old Timey piece, none of which are my favourite styles. However, the more you listen, the more you are won over by the charm of the singing and playing. There are some real classics here, the swinging Henry Hipken's "Stranger Things Have Happened" (the man is a genius) is awesome and "Savannah" is sheer perfection. Apart from Claire's gorgeous voice the most important ingredient in the overall sound is the fantastic Front Porch players - Jim Hurst is a GREAT guitarist, such tone and feel to his playing, Larry Lynch marvellous on mandolin and Missy Raines classy on bass. Collectively they have a sound of their own and the arrangements are wonderfully uncluttered. Special mention must also go to Glen Duncan on fiddle who fills in any small gaps left by the other players. Nice too that Claire co-writes so many of the songs on the album. My favourite originals are "Jealousy" and the tender "These Flowers". The production is excellent, avoiding the technical excesses of Alison Krauss's "Forget About It" recording. It may not be true bluegrass but it's another winner for Claire and Front Porch."

LOVE LIGHT SHINES!

Bart H. Brown | Birmingham, Alabama | 05/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Claire Lynch for years, and have seen her and the Front Porch String Band in concert many times. LOVE LIGHT is my favorite so far. I never take it out of the CD changer. Claire has always had a unique perspective on the bluegrass genre that she calls home. Her incredible vocal talents show that she can sing anything, and shouldn't be limited to bluegrass. And yet she remains true to it, while always spreading her wings to pure country, like "I Don't Have To Dream." As she showed on MOONILIGHTER, with "My Heart is a Diamond," she is as at home with country as she is with bluegrass. I really think she could be a bigger country star if she didn't remain so closely identified with bluegrass. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE BLUEGRASS, but I think some of it's biggest stars are known simply as bluegrass stars. Check out LOVE LIGHT, you won't be disappointed. If you like it, try MOONLIGHTER, you'll like it, too."

Claire's Best Yet

Ruth Bloomquist | Muskegon, MI USA | 04/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am also a 15 year plus fan of Claire Lynch. Once you hear her you will find yourself hanging with her for years too. Love Light is the first of her recordings to feature so many songs that Claire has had a hand in writing. And wonderful songs they are, they stick with you all day even when you are not listening to the CD. You find yourself wanting to sing along immediately. Not since Friends For A Lifetime have I had such an emotional response to a recording. Claire has a sweet, honest quality to her voice that you feel you know her. The musicianship on Love Light is excellent. The Front Porch String Band, Larry Lynch, Missy Raines (1999 IBMA Bass Player of the year) and Jim Hurst, put in wonderful ensemble work. This band is tight. I really like the warm, familiar atmosphere of Love Light. Give it a listen I think you will too."

Bright and breezy bluegrass

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 10/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Claire has never been a prolific recording artist but she makes up for that with the quality of her music. With a voice that has echoes of Emmylou, an excellent group of musicians and great songs, Claire could have been far more successful than she has been, had she devoted her life to music. Instead, Claire has lived her life the way she wanted to.

In the past, Claire has written some of her own material but this album is the first in which she has written or co-written over half the songs. Furthermore, none of the other songs are well known. The feel of the album is upbeat but there are no high-energy songs here - most of the songs are mid-tempo with the occasional slower song. As ever, Claire's music is rooted in bluegrass but has other influences - this one veers towards folk.

On this album, Claire is backed by Jim Hurst (acoustic guitar), Missy Raines (bass), Larry Lynch (mandolin, bouzouki), Glen Duncan (fiddle, twin fiddles), Rob Ickes (dobro, Wabash Avenue guitar), Pat McInerney (drums), Robert Bowlin (fiddle) and Alison Brown (banjo), though usually only five musicians play on any track.

With this album, Claire firmly established herself as a singer-songwriter of the highest quality. If you enjoy such singers as Lucinda Williams and Lucy Kaplansky and you also enjoy bluegrass, you should find this to be the perfect addition to your collection."

Claire Lynch

Bart H. Brown | 08/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The fun and excitement of country blue grass music is captured perfectly by Claire Lynch and her front porch band. As competent as the band is, however, it is the silky and harmonious vocals of Claire Lynch that drive this CD; particularly on tracks like "I Don't Have to Dream" and the title track, "Love Light". In addition to her wealth of talent, Claire Lynch brings a level of depth and emotion to this effort, making it a superb CD."

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