Dawn Landes – Meet Me At the River

Dawn Landes is still very country, no ‘alt-‘ about it....
Dawn Landes : Meet Me At the River
7.6 Yep Roc
2018 

Dawn Landes : Meet Me At the RiverAfter the sadness of Dawn Landes’ post-divorce Bluebird (QRO review), she’s remarried, had a child, and is a lot more upbeat on Meet Me At the River. She’s still very country, no ‘alt-‘ about it, and the sweetness can get a bit much at times, but it’s a nice record.

Landes has the authentic country-folk stylings down pat throughout River, from the title track to the charming closing duet with Bobby Bare, “I Don’t Dance”. She even ventures off the Nashville highway, going Woody Guthrie ‘power to the people’ on “Keep on Moving” and worldwide religious in the following “My Church”. There are really fun moments, like the wry “Why They Name Whiskey After Men” and the twang-stomp “Southern Girl”, but also some quieter times, such as “What Will I Do”.

Meet Me At the River is very country-sweet, and sometimes Landes pushes it a bit too far (“Dance” sounds like something from She & Him). But the new album definitely leaves a smile on your face.

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