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Album Review: Rhiannon Giddens - Freedom Highway

Liz Giuffre
StarStarStarStar

"A gospel/blues delight with rays of sonic hope."

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The second offering from Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens is a gospel/blues delight with rays of sonic hope.

Giddens' talent for injecting new energy into long-forgotten gems remains — not least on the title track, originally written by Pops Staples and featuring Bhi Bhiman. Highlights include beautifully morbid The Angels Laid Him Away, the direct piano-backed Birmingham Sunday and co-writes with Dirk Powell We Could Fly and Hey Bebe. Also gorgeous is Baby Boy, a sweet love lullaby supported by humming banjo; while the driving rhythm of Following The North Star counters as a fun percussive interlude. No difficult second album nonsense here — just a solid follow-up.