In Review--2 by The Wailin' Jennys
The Wailin' Jennys 40 Days Jericho Beach Records Firecracker Red House Records I landed a regular writing gig in the Skagit Valley in Washington, covering the arts. I am currently writing an article on the Canadian folk-bluegrass trio, The Wailin' Jennys. I received the trio's two CDs as part of my research and what I will say is that I have not been blown away by this kind of musical beauty and strength since I listened to the Beatles' harmonies as a young child or when I first witnessed Lo'Jo in concert at WOMAD USA in 1998. Two thirds of the Jennys' current lineup hail from Winnipeg--the silky vocals of Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta carry tinges of the prairies. Their voices wander like tumbleweeds across a desert or like the birds that they sing about on their CDs, "Arlington" (40 Days) and former alto member Annabelle Chvostek's "Swallow" (Firecracker), soar like minstrels on the wind. The third voice of the group has be...