No longer fumbling through novice flubs, Bright Sunny South features the most accomplished musicianship of Amidon’s career.
Bright Sunny South may not have the stark string arrangements of its predecessor but these songs are arguably drawn from a broader musical palette, mixing original compositions with covers of songs both old and new.
Bright Sunny South doesn't stray too far from Amidon's previous work, but still suggests his development in its gorgeous production, increasingly deft arrangements, and a general sense of greater confidence and vision throughout the record.
There’s a melancholic elegance in Amidon’s pieces that express nuanced forms of sadness
Not quite as stylized as 2010’s I See the Sign, but certainly no less ambitious, Bright Sunny South is a quiet, austere album that emphasizes Amidon’s banjo playing and singing.
With Bright Sunny South, Amidon has taken a huge step forward as a folk artist, creating arrangements which preserve his musicianship, while deepening the maturity of his interpretive skills.
Bright Sunny South ostensibly works as a return to a simpler sound, but it’s simpler only through the lens of a greater maturity, with Amidon’s ability to stay out of a song’s way as well as to shove his way into something more exploratory being a major asset.
Amidon scores again by taking these traditionals – with a couple modern covers thrown in – and stripping them of their inherent familiarity in favor of melodies and arrangements that match the complexity of his long relationships with them.
It's a shame there aren't more of these forward-thinking noises, and as such, the album only semi-succeeds, with the isolated guitars and lethargic vocals coming across too full of wear and drear.
As ever, Amidon mediates between the folk music of his ancestry and the popular music of his day, finding a unique modernity in his marrying of past and present.
'Bright Sunny South' picks up where 'I See a Sign' left off, the opener even recounting a soldier's tale in similar manner to that album's 'Pretty Fair Damsel'.
'Short Life' recalls Jose Gonzalez on 'Veneer' while 'My Old Friend' and 'As I Roved Out' not only up the tempo, but also increase the brightness intensity compared to his previous work.
There's more of a traditional (Irish?) folk influence on this release too, and that's welcome enough, though the songs do occasionally a'drift or ... read more
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