Sarah Jarosz - Follow Me Down

SarahJarosz - Follow Me Down
2011,Sugar Hill Records

Sarah Jarosz hails from Wimberly,Texas, and writes and sings with a presence, composure and sense of self thatseems extraordinary for one so young. The twenty-year old singer/songwriter is prolific, as well, recentlyreleasing her sophomore album, Follow MeDown.  Jarosz pushes at the wallswhile paying homage to the music she grew up with, blending a style ofAmericana rock that’s fresh and exciting.

Jarosz opens with "RunAway", a quiet but powerful entreaty, played skillfully by Jarosz'tremendous voice. The subtle arrangement underneath is the perfect foil to hervocal presence. "Come Around" is presented in a stark, openarrangement full of quiet urgency. This is a true WOW moment, and Jaroszdoesn't spare an ounce of energy in the vocal line. "Annabelle Lee"is classic Americana driven by a modern urgency and deep Appalachian roots.Jarosz explores the struggle between right and wrong on "Ring ThemBells", struggling to discern the proper path in a world complicated byemotions and influences that are often out of our control.

"My Muse" is an absolutelygorgeous love song; with Jarosz' voice floating over the arrangement like acloud. Chalk up another WOW moment for the artist. "Floating In TheBalance" is well written, but hard to even comprehend fully in the wake of"My Muse". It seems almost anti-climactic due to placement, but iswell worth your attention on its own. Jarosz shows off her instrumental side on"Old Smitty", blending bluegrass, country, Americana and Celticstyles in a compact arrangement with soaring fiddle work overhead. If Jaroszmakes a misstep on "The Tourist", it might be in the inexorablepacing, but the melancholic melody is full of an aching beauty that'simpossible to ignore. "Here Nor There" sticks to the middle of theroad, but Jarosz nails a note-perfect vocal performance, proving that sometimesless really is more. "Gypsy" finds Jarosz delving into quiet,observational poetry, in a down-tempo, low-key beauty of an arrangement, beforeclosing out with the simple folk instrumental "Peace."

Sarah Jarosz' roots-basedsinger/songwriter material isn't the type that generally builds a buzz outsideof internet radio, but Jarosz is in possession of tremendous songwriting skillsand such personal panache that she's impossible to ignore. Follow Me Downis the sort of album that grabs you in the opening notes, wraps you its armsand refuses to let you go until it had its way with you. Even in her quietermoments, Jarosz delivers on Follow Me Down, whether with her voice, hersongwriting, or her presence as an artist. More often than not all three are inplay at once. When this happens, just stand back and listen. Sarah Jarosz is aforce, and Follow Me Down is a Wildy’s World Certified Desert island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Sarah Jarosz at www.sarahjarosz.com or www.myspace.com/sarahjaroszmusic. 

           CD                         MP3                     Vinyl                    iTunes


Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed. Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com.