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By
Ellen Rawson
Eliza
Gilkyson, probably best known for her late ‘80s hit, "Calling All
Angels," skirts various musical genres: singer-songwriter,
country/bluegrass, and New Age. Slide guitar and dobro give songs such as
"Beauty," "Engineer Bill," and "Baby’s Waking" a
country feel, but "Coast," with its simple musical accompaniment
(merely acoustic guitar, bass, and accordion) fits in more with the
singer-songwriter tradition.
Her
lyrics also make this release difficult to categorize or pigeonhole. There’s a
religious tone to "Sanctuary," but it seems more philosophical than
preachy. And then there’s "Flatline," with confessional-style verses
half sung/spoken in a deep, smoky voice.
With
the exception of "In My Dreams," Gilkyson mostly explores her lower
register on this album. To be honest, that range well suits the material chosen
for it. Primarily and foremost, Hard Times
in Babylon is a contemplative exploration of loss and sadness. In many ways,
Hard Times in Babylon is a simple
album. It isn’t overproduced, and it isn’t gimmicky. While it ends with the
hopeful "Sanctuary," it’s not necessarily an upbeat production.
However, it is honest. As she openly admits in "You Can Walk A way from
Love," probably one of the album’s more radio-friendly songs, "I
don’t trust the world of man but I still believe in love."
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