Search - Maria Muldaur :: Yes We Can

Muldaur Soldiers On

Mark D. Prouse | Riverdale (Bronx), NY | 08/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Right On!" is all I can say about the new Maria Muldaur. Her most powerful work yet. Upon second listen, I think it's the best thing she's done since her youthful heyday, when she was often heard singing about sex and/or romance. The three Dylan songs are the strongest, here: "John Brown," "License To Kill," and especially "Masters of War." On the first listen, I gave up on the latter after a few bars, as it's never been among my favorite Dylan tunes; bit of a slog, I always thought, whether by Judy Collins or by Dylan himself. Big mistake on my part. The second go-round I paid more attention and found that this version is the first one of the song that I've really appreciated. The atmospheric arrangement, with its rumbling drums, is hair-raising, Maria's singing is appropriately impassioned (but not melodramatic), and the lyrics come through in a more personal way than they ever have for me. The six-minute length goes by in a flash; that's how engaging it is. There are some other highlights, including Garth Brooks' "We Shall Be Free," with vocal trade-off's between Maria, Joan Baez, Odetta and Holly Near, and a bluesy "Why Can't We Live Together," accented by fine electric guitar work by Shane Theriot, and an interesting reimagining of "War," one of those tunes one would not think could be effectively covered by anyone, the familiar Edwin Starr version being so definitive. Muldaur slows it down, giving the lyrics a chance to be absorbed in a new way. There are other familiar voices on this CD: Phoebe Snow can be heard wailing away on "Pray For The USA," and Bonnie Raitt joins in on the title song. Muldaur's excellent band, The Free Radicals, provides solid, energetic backing throughout.



This is essentially an anti-war-themed album, as one can easily expect by looking at the cover art. What Muldaur does that makes the dread of slopping through a bunch of tired old hippie sentiments disappear, is infuse the whole project with a positive, uplifting energy. Her Women's Voices For Peace Choir, provides a gospel-flavored anchor for the rock, blues and folk styles presented, and gives the album a cohesive feel. This is good, old-fashioned sing-along music that manages to sound fresh and vital, surpassing, at least for this listener, all expectations. The finale, "Everyone In The World," with its East Indian flavor and Baez and Near adding their harmonies to the choir is just lovely, and a nice, unexpected contrast to the more blues & rock-oriented approach taken with most of what came before.



There are so many ways in which this project could have gone terribly wrong. Most of the pitfalls were avoided, and although I'm sure Muldaur is primarily preaching to the choir, it is great not to be bored, as so often happens in overtly political material, with mawkishly earnest or serious content overshadowing one of the purposes of good music,: to be moved and entertained at the same time. Maria Muldaur certainly accomplishes this purpose on YES WE CAN!"

Maria Muldaur - Unleashed

Thomas H. Moody | Nobleboro, ME United States | 08/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since Maria Muldaur's self-titled debut album first appeared in 1973 she has shown a certain amount of "nerve" in her repertoire selections. On paper many of her album/CD-programmed choices could look like a recipe for disaster. Take for example her excellent 1974 album "Waitress In A Donut Shop" where she wove songs from writers as diverse as Fats Waller, Anna McGarrigle, Allen Toussaint, Lieber & Stoller, Wendy Waldman, and Doc Watson into a cohesive work that flowed from one genre to another without missing beat. That chance-taking trait has followed her throughout her career and each and every time she makes it work and comes out a winner.



Muldaur has musically never been very political - until now. Sure there was some songs here and there where she sang about promoting peace and harmony (Smokey Robinson's "Sweet Harmony") or where she perhaps got a little political (Rev. W.H. Brewster's "As An Eagle Stirreth Her Nest") but she's basically been a singer of love songs (good love and not-so good love.)



With "Yes We Can" we find Muldaur singing upfront and forceful in the area of world affairs, politics and the state of the human race Once again she mixes up the pot with a varied program that looks a bit "iffy" on paper. But by this time we should all know enough to wait and listen to her performance. And surely enough one doesn't have to wait long into the recording to realize that "Yes We Can" is an excellent piece of work.



The musical choices fluctuate between songs that call for peace and understanding and strong anti war/violence songs. On the "up" side is first and foremost the opening track, Earl King's "Make A Better World" which opens with a Stone's like riff and then adds to that a Honky Tonk/New Orleans sound. The chorus of "Everybody let's sing, sing, sing" is addictive enough to get in your head and spin around in there for days! Bonnie Raitt joins Muldaur for a great rendition of Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can" (first made popular by the Pointer Sisters on their debut album in 1973) and together they breath an updated spin of the song, which was resurrected after Hurricane Katrina by Toussaint himself.



Garth Brooks' "We Shall Be Free" is a really good song and makes for a great "make a change" anthem. Joined here by Odetta, Joan Baez and Holly Near, Muldaur and company easily prove why they were dominant voices in the 60's & 70s and why they're still relevant today. When the haunting, yet motherly, voice of Odetta comes in on the second verse one feels as if everything will be and can be all right after all.



But the biggest surprises on the CD are the anti war/violence songs Muldaur chooses - and they're bold choices. Her cover of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" couldn't be bettered by anyone else, and Shane Theriot adds a great guitar solo to it. Muldaur also remakes the Edwin Starr classic "War" in an unexpected slow rendition that accentuates the song's message in a completely different manner than the original.



However, it's the three Dylan numbers that are the cream of the crop of this recording. Muldaur has already shown her skill at singing Dylan with her CD "Heart of Mine" and here she shows that she's also capable of taking on Dylan's most biting and ironic anti- war/violence songs. "John Brown" is startlingly graphic and actually somewhat uncomfortable to listen to due its subject matter (a maimed soldier returning from war to a shocked and misguided mother.) With a tip of the hat to the Staple Singer's version of this song, Muldaur & Co., tackle it without much musical drama per se, leaving the words to express it's horror. (Dylan never recorded "John Brown" in the studio.)



Then there's Dylan's "License To Kill", which Muldaur sings with her daughter Jenni on harmony, that leaves the listener haunted by the visions of "the woman on my block" who keeps asking "who gave him the license to kill?"



"Masters Of War" is a Dylan work that most would shy away from due to its length and the fact that most singers are probably afraid to even approach it's anger. But as Muldaur has proven throughout her career - she'll take on anything if she wants to. Her performance of "Masters of War" is about as strong as they come.



This CD is not to be missed by Muldaur fans or by those who long for social issue resolutions and the desire for worldwide peace and freedom. For those who believe that these ideals are still as alive and well today in 2008, as they were some forty years ago, step back, listen and learn from the older generation who lived through the turbulent times of the Vietnam War. They still have something to say.



Oh, and by the way, The Free Radicals (David Torkanowksy, Tony Braunagh, Hutch Hutchinson and Shane Theriot) are a tight backup. Jenni Muldaur, Linda Tillerey, Valerie Trout , Jeanie Tracy and others supply background vocals.

"

Don't Ever Stop Puttin' 'Em Out There Maria!

Lisa Finn | Overland Park, Ks United States | 11/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have loved Maria's music for decades, I guess that lets you know how old I am. I have a broad range of favorite artists from Assembly of Dust to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Maria's albums I reach for most of the time. This one did not let me down. When Maria sings the incredible soul touching ballads on this album you can feel it from your heart to your pinky toes! Her voice has been fine tuned with time and experiences and you can hear it in every selection. You want to sway,boogie,shout or cry when listening to this creative venue of perfection. Please, please Maria, don't ever stop."