There are things of beauty that light up this increasingly ugly world and one of those is the voice of Allison Russell. That’s not to disregard the contribution of the other members of Po’ Girl but outside of Utah you’re only allowed by law to take one woman to be your wife and I am convinced that she is the one.
On this album Po’ Girl follow their roots into the depths of Americana. Almost at Nancy Griffith levels of emotionalism, they spin tales of the good ol’ days in a way long forgotten by the Nashville hierarchy. “Western Skies” testifies like the Dixie Chicks but adds a musical subtlety that stamps their own mark soundly and surely on the proceedings. Oh, and the sheer simplicity and beauty of “Kathy” easily exudes the downhome sentiment of The Band while Allison Russell charms the contented listener and “Follow Your Bliss” goes all good time Delaney and Bonnie in a way that would surely have got Po’Girl a place on the soundtrack to Vanishing Point (the greatest road movie of them all).
The great thing about this album is how Po’ Girl manage to make it all look easy (and easygoing) and you’d have to try hard to dislike an album like this. Really hard in fact and, all things considered, you would be better off thinking of innovative ways to propose marriage to Allison Russell.