Rounder

Steve Martin won a Grammy for The Crow and followed it up with another nomination for Rare Bird Alert, his 2011 collaboration with the Steep Canyon Rangers. The Rangers lend
support on a few songs on this album, but the spotlight here stays on Edie Brickell’s folksy, understated vocals and finely crafted lyrics that sound like they’re hundreds of years old, save for one mention of sending email. Martin wrote the melodies, but this is not a bluegrass album, although the high lonesome sound of traditional music does inform the tunes. “Shawnee” and “Get Along Stray Dog” are old-timey stomp dances, the chilling “Yes She Did” is a haunting suicide ballad, “When Are You Gonna Wake Up” is a sprightly courting song and the lovely, moaning “Sun’s Gonna Shine” is pure heartache, with a wrenching vocal from Brickell that’s guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye.