Whatcha Gonna Do (Rounder, 2009)
Claire Lynch
Reviewed by George Hauenstein
A multiple IBMA award winner, her music spans beyond bluegrass, though she can mix it up bluegrass-style as well as anyone, as evidenced here by Barbed Wire Boys and Bill Monroe's My Florida Sunshine. Widow's Weeds has a strong bluegrassy and old timey flavor to it as well.
Though a terrific songwriter and singer, her writing prowess is not as much in evidence here as in albums past. Instead, Lynch showcases the work of other great writers, including Susan Werner (Barbed Wire Boys) Garth Brooks and Buddy Mondlock (A Canary's Song) and Jesse Winchester (That's What Makes You Strong) Winchester duets with Lynch on this one, one of the best cuts on the record.
The opener, Great Day In The Morning, is a strong, feel-good song that sets the tone for the rest of this great collection.
She's backed here by long-time collaborators, Jim Hurst(guitar), Jason Thomas(mandolin, fiddle) and Mark Schatz(bass).
On Lynch's first album in a number of years, she's back and sounding as good as ever.
CDs by Claire Lynch
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