Album Notes

Where contemporary singer/songwriter Andrew McKnight’s first two albums focused largely on the stories of rural characters and their relationship to the land, his third effort turns his considerable vision towards the landscape of the soul. Among this collection of stories, reflections and letters can be found some of his most stunning songwriting gems; imagining the “Diary” of Thomas Jefferson and his longtime slave mistress Sally Hemings (a duet with Mary Byrd Brown), the humorous and bluesy ode to Hoagy Carmichael (“Bad News”), the simple driving clarity of “Winter”, the haunting diary of a Virginia farm boy on “The Road to Appomattox”, and a provocative hard-edged collaboration with renowned urban folk poet Chris Chandler on “Jesus and the Nighttime Train”.

“Gorgeously stark string work, feel-good melodies and a healthy dose of the past make Andrew McKnight’s music a disarming delight... McKnight’s vocals have a lovely tenor-range timbre well-suited for his brand of acoustic country flavored folk/pop. His is a voice that evokes a reflective, pensive and insightful sense of Americana.” (Joey DiGuglielmo, The Journal)

“refreshing delivery and writing style...Talent, enthusiasm and real content make this a welcome album in a time when so many people out there seem to be mostly fluff and packaging. I especially liked the somber Civil War ballad, “The Road to Appomattox” for its powerful yet agile lyrics, traditional sound, and intense passion.” (Marilyn O'Malley, Victory Review)

“ “Diary,” McKnight’s duet with Mary Byrd Brown, is an outstanding song about Thomas Jefferson’s affair with Sally Hemmings. It’s a moving song that brings the characters, especially Jefferson, to life...”Jesus and the Nighttime Train” is another interesting song, this time about the lack of faith that drives us to war.” (Rebecca Swain, Green Man Review)