Rosanne Cash – The River & The Thread Blue Note B001951102 (2014)
There are artists who paint within the lines, and those who don’t. Rosanne Cash has always been one to stay within the lines. Everything she does has precedents, though not always in the realm of country music where she is best known. But she paints within the lines in a way that is convincing and rich, wanting for nothing outside those bounds. The River & The Thread is among the finest work of her career. She just keeps getting better and better with age. Songs like “The Sunken Lands” and “50,000 Watts” are taut and lively, while staying within arm’s reach of the mellow vibe Cash is known for. Good stuff.