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A 'World' filled with heartache
from Orlando Sentinel: Janurary 13, 2006
by Jim Abbott
Unfortunately, LaVere sounds mighty reserved on an album that's more moody than muscular. Her lonesome alto is well- suited for the lovelorn material, but the album's subdued feel makes it less fun than Mathus' 2005 album Knockdown South.
Nevertheless, LaVere does the heartache songs with conviction, especially the old-school country weeper "Leaving," with its keening pedal steel. There's an appealing dash of Memphis R&B in "Innocent Girl," which is really a world-weary ode to innocence lost.
At times, the sadness and bluesy tempos conspire to make LaVere's World kind of a downer. Maybe on the next album, she'll find her fighting side.
LaVere and her band inject a little caffeine in the mix on "Take 'Em or Leave 'Em," with its gentle rock beat reinforced with accordion and mandolin. A few more songs with a lilting tempo would have been nice.
Still, when LaVere indulges in the vague sadness of the title track, it's enough to make the brokenhearted stare into the bubbles of the beer and nod in agreement.
jabbott@orlandosentinel.com
