Jamie Lantz and IvoryFly
Review of ‘Down That Road'
Summer 2004
Avowed fans of local favorite Green's finely wrought diva folk, we are now fans of Green and Root's latest CD, Down That Road. Root, Green's life partner, joins with seamless alto harmonies, providing back up in vocals and onstage at the recent release concert. Their partnering on this co-production is masterful and speaks of the marvelous Tao that shines so brightly through this acoustic food for the soul. Luxuriant vocals range effortlessly, yet these songs pack a wallop of brutally clear insight. Green and Root get the balance just right.
Down That Road, the first cut (is the deepest, in a CD that cuts deep), weighs the grief and the blessing of a mother/daughter love brought into sharp focus by death. The pain of loss is tolerable only by the joy of courageous love; the heights achievable by familiarity with the depths. This is intelligent, elegant stuff.
The sound quality and production are excellent, which is good because its getting a lot of play at our house. This Cozy Goat Record (Berkeley) features fine local musicians on slide and acoustic guitar, electric bass and drums with the occasional wurlitzer for good measure. A gifted lyricist, Green's songs (she writes, sings and plays guitar) are delicious melodic musings that get under your skin and provide a balm to the soul.
These songs scoop you gently forward though life passages, inspiring and encouraging as a good friend. Marrying You is the theme song (with a great video) for this decade's civil rights battle -the right to queer marriage. Check out the website (with performances listed) and support these pagan community gems. Whether singing of the dance between urban and wild, personal and political, or despondent and ecstatic, the Tao of Green and Root's Down That Road is a sweet nectar.