Born to Fly (RCA, 2000)
Sara Evans
Reviewed by Eli Messinger
Evans and co-producer Paul Worley, provide heartening examples of howcountry can at once retain its soul while simultaneously drawing on the sounds favored by radio. The result is an album that mates country's roots to contemporary song-craft (including covers of Bruce Hornsby and Diane Warren-by-way-of-Edward McCain), but only manages a few true marriages.
The title track features an inventive mix of New Orleans marching drums,acoustic guitars, organ, fiddle, banjo, dobro and a string backing befitting The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour, all topped triumphantly by Evans' tightly wound harmonies. "I Keep Looking" follows a more straight-forward country-rock path, "Let's Dance" crosses Deana Carter's early success with shades of Carly Simon, and "I Learned That From You" gives Evans a chance to wring out some hard-learned heartache.
Evans' incredible talent is evident throughout, even when trapped in some of the album's more pedestrian ballads. The end result is an album that provides high points for traditionalists and modernists alike, but may leave neither fully satisfied.
CDs by Sara Evans






©Country Standard Time • Jeffrey B. Remz, editor & publisher • countrystandardtime@gmail.com
About • Copyright • Newsletter • Our sister publication Standard Time