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DOWN-HOME STRUMMING: It's arguable that you can't really appreciate good folk music unless you hear it in a live setting. It's the spontaneity and intimacy of a troubadour spinning tales in front of an audience that truly makes the genre flourish. It's with that in mind that we wholeheartedly endorse Live at the Down Home , by grass-roots singer/songwriter SONiA. The album is a brave, warts-and-all recording of a club date. The sound hasn't been sweetened; the audience applause hasn't been beefed up to sound like an arena of rabid animals. The result is a beautiful, compelling recording that draws in the listener. SONiA's performs with palpable confidence and charm, running through the gamut of emotions. In every note of Live at the Down Home, you can hear that SONiA has a lengthy resume of shows and recordings. (She's played in seven countries and has seven award-winning albums to her credit.) In 1988, she (along with her sister, Cindy Frank formed the act disappear fear. After four albums, Cindy left to become a full-time mother. SONiA forged onward as a solo artist, issuing two albums that have earned public praise from colleagues that include Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Indigo Girls, and Janis Ian. SONiA performs more than 200 dates a year, and yet she seems to play each gig with the passion and electric energy of an artist on opening night. If you have any doubt, hear for yourself. To get more details on this and other SONiA projects, investigate Winthrop Media's Web site: winthropmedia.com. |