Eddi Reader has been performing in some capacity since the 1980s,
and Love Is the Way reverberates with the sort of confidence and
talent that only a seasoned vet could muster. Her songs are a relaxed
take on folk-pop, full of dusty, slow-paced waltzes, delicate balladry
and shuffling piano ditties meant for romanticized venues like
honky-tonk bars, low-lit basement clubs and ornate theaters. And while
there’s something very traditional in Reader’s timbre, this isn’t the
sort of old-timey revivalist shtick that less-talented musicians have
found so quaint the past few years. This is songwriting in a classic
vein. “Dragonflies” plays out like a gentle and elegant summer wind as
it bounces along on subtle strings and campfire drums. “Dandelion” is a
classic nightclub love song, complete with a rollicking piano,
accordion moan and sultry vocals, while “Roses” recalls the
singer-songwriter era with its simple guitar-pop and maraca shake. This
is Reader’s eighth album of original material rooted in traditional
styles, yet she still manages to have something fresh to say.
— Whelihan
This article appears in Apr 29 – May 5, 2009.
