I want to know that a new album by a favorite artist explores new territory. This doesn’t have to be a whole new musical genre, as long as it’s an influence or a lyrical idea or an instrumental arrangement I wouldn't necessarily associate with that artist.
The new Indigo Girls record All That We Let In mixes some stretching with some descents into comfort zones for its listeners. Emily Saliers’ Fill It Up Again, opens the album, and while there’s nothing wrong with a bright, upbeat sing-along-er, this is more soothing than eye-opening. Saliers’ album ender, Rise Up, sounds like a sequel to the first song. Amy Ray takes a similarly bright approach on Perfect World, the single, but manages to be more emphatic in the lyric (Can we look the other way?).With Saliers’ songs on this LP, not unlike on 2002’s Become You, the tempos change, but the mood is similar song to song. Ray, whose writing has gotten stronger again in recent years, varies mood, tone, and narrative perspective on each track. Her personal pieces, Tether and Cordova, are the most striking tunes on the album. Although her Heartache For Everyone, out-pops her partner’s most luminescent songwriting contributions with its speed-reggae feel.
Not that the two are actually competing for anything.
The writing differences are notable, but as singers, the duo has never sounded tighter. Their trademark harmonies and melodic fuguing are intact throughout, as are their energetic acoustic guitars. The tracks do feature enough supporting instruments to keep things interesting, though, and the stripped down sound of Ray’s Cordova is unlike anything the two have released before. Keyboard-driven, guitarless, soley vocal until the second refrain, and featuring a perfect marriage of tender lyric and aching melody, it’s my favorite track.
But close behind it is another Amy Ray song, Tether, the only "jam" on the album. More bluesy and restrained than the brilliant Faye Tucker from 1999’s Come On Now Social, this tune, nonetheless, struck a similar chord with me. One reason is that the second verse of the song the most indelible component. Ray sings about a conversation with a neighbor who says it’s time for less talk and more guns. One of the marks of a well-written pop or rock song is one on which you don’t exhaust all your ideas in the first minute. Tether delivers for its entire six.
I must say that I’m surprised the album does not contain more overt social commentary. Each of their records always lists about a dozen political activist organizations, and the two have never been shy about their allegiances. Their portrayal of an America many of us miss has always been one of their strengths, and while there are elements here of that (Dairy Queen, Tether, All That We Let In), I’d embrace a more outwardly political set next time out.
As is the habit these days, this album comes with a bonus DVD, which may well not be included with future pressings of the album. Filmed entirely at an intimate club gig featuring the Girls without a band, the disc presents four of the tracks from the album in the acoustic form, followed by two classics: Galileo and Kid Fears. While the harmonies and musical partnership are certainly present, the most striking thing about the DVD is how young these two do not look. Indigo Girls have been on the national scene for 15 years now, and while their performances reflect their veteran status, they’ve hardly used up all of their ideas. I look for great songs from Amy and Emily for years to come.
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