I'm surprised nobody's talked about Rita's new release here yet. It's called "Porch Songs", and is a tribute to the Halifax band Coyote. This is probably MacNeil's most intense effort to date, and she really brings new life to these songs.
some of the tracks really shine. Her rendition of "Never Let Your Friends Find You Dead" is truly haunting, and on "God Damn Good" she screams like she's never screamed before. On the title track (the Porch Song), when she sings the line "Fuck 'em, it don't mean nothin'" she says it with even more conviction than Chris Logan himself. And with "I Remember Drinking" Rita MacNeil rocks out like only Rita MacNeil can. when she's bad...she's Fabulous. the album does have its weak points however. "Wander" is far too long and self indulgent, and the fiddle solo in "The Lynching Bee" is annoying to say the least. However, despite these flaws, this album is totally worth getting, possibly one of the best of 1995. roderick -- e-mail SUCKS.
