The first nationally available disc from singer-songwriter Julie Lee is a winning combination of folk, bluegrass, gospel and a touch of blues that establishes her as an artist to watch. The predominant use of acoustic instruments by a cast of Nashville musicians including Dave Pomeroy, Pat McGrath, Tammy Rodgers and Larry Franklin gives the album an intimate warmth and timeless sound. The production suits Lee’s clear and expressive voice, which invites comparisons to Nanci Griffith and Gillian Welch.
Lee’s songs draw listeners in like a good short story hooks a reader. The title track is a spirited and captivating opener, inspired by the lives of her great-grandparents and grandparents and a tale of moonshine production. Vince Gill chips in on backing vocals. “Made From Scratch” is a tribute to the powers of home cooking enlivened by Lee’s feisty vocal. By contrast, Lee adopts a delicate, hushed delivery on the dreamy “Winter”, as if she’s tiptoeing through newly fallen snow.
Lee’s Christian faith has shaped her approach to songwriting. “He’s My Man” is a testimony to the power of Jesus. The mournful “James” uses imagery of Cain and Abel in describing the racially motivated murder of James Byrd Jr. in Texas. Alison Krauss contributes peerless harmonies to “Many Waters”, a romantic ballad drawn from the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament.