Anna Wolfe’s fifth album, My Treasure (Soulful Songstress Records 7238) (3 stars out of 4) is a gorgeous singer-songwriter album, very much in the Beth Nielsen Chapman style. In fact, Beth adds backing vocals to I Take Notice of Kindness, an acoustic masterpiece about the importance of every day actions we tend to take for granted: ‘Little things that aren’t little at all / like horses covered in warm blankets / instead of left to themselves in the cold.’ This song has incredible harmonies and is a hit waiting to happen. Other gems on this thoughtful record include Close Call, a song about how close we all are to death, but not as morbid as it sounds, and the captivating My Star. Lush is how I would describe the recording, not a tince of clipping. And that’s down to veteran producer Wendy Waldman who has done a great job in treating each and every song with the sensitivity they require.
Maverick Magazine
September 2006
www.maverick-country.com
Anna Wolfe
My Treasure
Soulful Songstress Records 7238
"My Treasure," Anna Wolfe's fifth album, is a finely honed, elegantly stated, and defining collection of material. Produced by Wendy Waldman, each of Anna's songs is set to the appropriate musical backdrop, allowing the story and her vocals to take center stage. Recently recorded in Waldman's own California studio, "My Treasure" is the first album Wolfe has made since 2000. It was well worth the wait.
There is no obvious formula to Anna's writing, and Wolfe isn't afraid to use her wide vocal range in order to evoke a full spectrum of emotion. "My Treasure" yields a breadth of musical variety. The songs are held together, not only by the thread of Wolfe's own observations and explorations, but by the craftsmanship of Waldman's production married with Wolfe's expressive vocals and adept guitar and piano playing.
The subjects covered are unique and show depth, even in their simplicity of matter. For instance, in I Take Notice of Kindness (Track 3) the writer harkens back to the importance of actions we take for granted every day, "I take notice of kindness I see about the world, little things that aren't little at all, like horses outside covered in warm blankets, instead of left to themselves in the cold. The song is misleadlingly stark in it's presentation, with Anna's acoustic piano and the barest hint of viola and cello. Backing vocals by both Waldman and Beth Nielsen Chapman are added judiciously for just the right emphasis.
Just as easily, Wolfe can tackle the most difficult subjects with a healing grace, like in The Ballad of the Nameless Son (Track 9). Wolfe was inspired to write about the true story of her father's great uncle, whom after he committed suicide, was never mentioned in the family again. It was only when Anna read a book authored by her father that referred to the story that Anna was struck "with the tragedy, not only of his death, but of his name being forgotten."
Wolfe has the ability to write a variety of styles, some that are driven with an infectious rhythm and groove, others possess a distinctive personality, but all are complemented by Wolfe's memorable melodies. The album's upbeat opening song sets the tone with Janes Song (Track 1), which introduces us to Anna's distinctive sound. Followed by If My Mind Was a Hound (Track 2), you continue to become drawn into Wolfe's world and style. Throughout the CD, you feel like you're making a new friend, yet are pleasantly surprised along the way by her adventuresome and catchy melodies. With How I love Her (Track 10) Kenny Edward's slide guitar is tastefully woven in, which perhaps distantly brings to mind the acoustic "No Expectations" by The Stones. Yet in the next track Anna effortlessly glides into Silver Veil (Track 11) a song written for her own marriage day, which somehow feels natural following How I Love Her, yet would be equally at home in a medieval court.
"My Treasure" is a combined work of art created between two rare individuals - Anna Wolfe, whose time has come as an artist of note and in Wendy Waldman, whose sensitive and highly skilled production talents knows how to let the artist's creation shine brightly.
All songs written by Anna Wolfe
Produced by Wendy Waldman
BIO:
Anna Wolfe is simply unforgettable. Maybe it's her intriguing, yet innocent voice, belying an ancient, simple wisdom in her lyrics that leaves a lasting impression. It could be the combined experience of a young heart and old soul, resulting in songs that earn her praise with her peers and with an ever increasing legion of fans. Or perhaps it's the combination of softness, laced with brilliance, in her blonde hair and blue eyes that gives no hint at first meeting of her inner strength and fortitude. Whatever it is, Anna seems to leave a profound piece of herself with everyone who hears her music.
Growing up in Ohio, in a 150 year old "haunted" farm house, set the stage for Anna's intuitive and observational abilities to emerge, translating later into a significant advantage for the future songwriter. At home, communing with horses, the vastness of nature and being sensitive to and aware of the energies around her, Anna developed an intuitive and keen ability to delve into and identify what's been buried below the surface.
Anna subliminally was influenced toward the arts by her family. Her paternal grandfather was a playwright, director, and classical musician. Her father is a sculptor and Anna dabbled when she could on his treasured antique grand piano and old nylon-stringed guitar. And her other four siblings also followed in artistic pursuits. But it was in Anna's subconscious innocence, that she corralled the childlike freedom of casually and freely composing her own songs as a young girl. This all came to fruition for her in high school when Anna won her school's scholarship program to record what was to become her first album. However, Anna was also becoming a budding actress as well, garnering many leading roles along the way.
Encouraged by her success as a thespian, Anna decided to attend college in Boston as a theater major. But moving to a big city was initially a shock for this rural teenager. The comfort she had sought from her childhood farmland was replaced by densely-packed spaces and an overload of people to interact with, compared to her youth. Deciding to leave her studies behind before graduation, Anna embarked on her own life's journey, eventually leading her back to her music and into successfully integrating her intuitive abilities into her art and life.
It was that journey that laid the groundwork for Anna to earn her reputation with other noted songwriters. Anna had four albums under her belt, performed over the years solo and with her own duos and bands, logging countless performances and successes locally behind her. But, it was when she attended Colorado's Rocky Mountain Songwriting School in the summers from 2001-2003, that veteran teacher Paul Reisler knew Anna's songwriting prowess was undeniable. Introducing her to other well-known writers, they also encouraged and supported Anna's path.
Anna's career took a definitive leap forward in 2003 as well while attending a folk conference in Nashville. Beth Nielsen Chapman, who had met Anna through Rocky Mountain, introduced her to Wendy Waldman. Upon hearing one of Anna's earlier performances, Waldman was single mindedly determined to catch every subsequent showcase that Anna was playing until the wee hours of the morning.
Impressed and moved, Wendy offered to produce her now current CD, "My Treasure," (2005). Recorded in 2003/2004 at Waldman's own California studio, Wendy's production brings out every nuance of Anna's writing, with a strong supporting cast of musicians and backing vocals, contributed by both Wendy and Beth Nielsen Chapman. Recently relocating to Nashville with her husband Philip, Anna and her new CD are set to make an indelible stamp on the acoustic music world.
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