” The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes from within the souls of men when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Sacred, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us. This is the real peace, and the others are but reflections of this. The second peace is that which is made between two individuals, and the third is that which is made between two nations. But above all you should understand that there can never be peace between nations until there is first known that true peace which is within the souls of men. ”
Black Elk

Recently, my son showed me a fun website (Cool Music Website of the Day ~ TheSixtyOne dot com) that introduces independent musical artists to the world. I almost always have it running in the background now because I have found so many great tunes! One of my favorite new obsessions is an artist I found on TheSixtyOne.com Amy Martin and especially her album “This Fall” available at iTunes, Pandora, Rhapsody and emusic. Much like Gather.com, TheSixtyOne.com is driven by user comments and recommendations. I think I found Amy Martin through my son and I’m glad I did. She is a wonderfully talented musician from Missoula, Montana who has toured with artists like Pete Seeger, Indigo Girls, Bruce Cockburn, Holly Near and Cris Williamson. You can read more about Amy at her website: http://www.amymartin.org/. I selected her album “This Fall” first because all of the proceeds go to a humanitarian effort in Afghanistan, Creating Hope International that promotes women’s health and education issues. It’s nice to get great music and support a great cause at the same time.

When I get a new album, the first thing I do is listen to it several times both awake and asleep to see what tunes stick in my brain first. I’d have to say that honor goes to Prayer to mamagod. The fantastic words do stick in my brain and the melody sticks in my heart. It tells me to look in my own heart in order to make peace in a world at war. Ring Around competes with it though and I have awakened with it in my head as well.

Track Listing:

1 Taoing 3:18
2 Ring Around 4:16
3 Indian Summer 4:40
4 Open 4:59
5 Rake and Ramblin’ Girl 2:36
6 Prayer to Mamagod 4:37
7 What Is Complete 3:35
8 My Fellow Americans 4:39
9 Say Your Prayers 4:41
10 September 5:00
11 Sourceless 3:18
12 First Snow 4:30

WHAT I LIKE

Amy Martin’s voice is clear, strong, unique and well supported so her passion for the song subject comes through. Her acoustic guitar adds a mellowing effect and always supports her voice without overpowering it. The lyrics are all well thought out and are easily heard and understood as well as having social relevance. The sadness and anger in Ring Around makes me sad and angry, spurring me to write poetry and maybe I’ll even write my senator. She would have fit right in with the sixties protestors. It’s not a live album, but it has a kind of, “singing in the coffeehouse” intimacy that I don’t usually hear.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

The only remotely negative remark I can make about This Fall is that the style doesn’t change up from one song to the next very much. The album is all kind of a folk/bluegrass ballad sound with most feeling to be the same tempo.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION

I love Amy Martin’s passion and This Fall is a beautiful album that will encourage you to want to change the world for the better. In the best tradition of Pete Seeger or Peter, Paul and Mary, Amy Martin will touch you deeply.

2008 © Susan K Barton