Laura Cantrell – When The Roses Bloom Again

Laura Cantrell has consistently posited herself as a fan first and foremost, not only through her duties as a DJ at famed freeform station WFMU, but also with her 2000 debut album, Not The Tremblin’ Kind. On the latter, she championed great songwriters such as Joe Flood, Amy Allison and Robert McCreedy, covering their songs and offering consistent lip service to their talents. Cantrell ensured in her own way that a circle remained unbroken.

But Cantrell has also emerged as a talented songwriter and performer in her own right (and kept her head about her as accolades rained down from such lofty folks as John Peel and Elvis Costello). When The Roses Bloom Again stays true to the vision Cantrell carved out on her debut, once again blending a handful of fine originals with tunes by deserving songwriters. Tracks by NYC roots-music vets Flood and Dan Prater show up once again, this time augmented by tunes from Amy Rigby and Dave Schramm. (The title track is the Wilco/Billy Bragg Mermaid Avenue outtake that emerged on the Chelsea Walls soundtrack, while older songs popularized by Jim & Jesse and the Everly Brothers also crop up.)

Cantrell may not possess the vocal muscle of a Lucinda Williams or peers such as Kelly Willis and Kasey Chambers, but her inherently vintage and plain-sung sincerity lands sentiments like nobody’s business. And from note one, this effort displays a clear increase in confidence. There’s even a bit more pop pep in Cantrell’s classic country leanings at times: Jon Graboff’s Byrdsy twelve-string propels a rousing run through Flood’s “All The Same To You”, while the album opener (and Cantrell original) “Too Late For Tonite” is infectious, pedal-steel-soaked country-pop.

With this album, Cantrell and guitarist-producer Jay Sherman-Godfrey have built upon the strengths of Cantrell’s debut and stayed true to a vision that is all her own.