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Girls Like Us - Reviewed by Kerry Dexter (Tallahassee, FL)

A night of songs in the round at the Bluebird Cafe, Nashville's famed songwriter space, brought Celeste Krenz and Rebecca Folsom together. They both come from farther west, Krenz from North Dakota and Folsom from Colorado. Their debut album shows why it was a collaboration worth pursuing, with songs that are at once literate and emotional and harmonies that strike just the right note of connection and invention while staying spare and serving the music. The title track "Gilrls Like Us" seems suited to the dreams and reflections of those who are looking both forward and back in their lives. Top songwriter Gretchen Peters recorded the duo's dark "If I Hd A Gun" on her most recent album, which will give you an idea of the sorts of stories Krenz and Folsom tell. They've each had success in solo careers, but this paring seems to suggest what the Indigo Girls might have sounded like had they taken a folk path. It also seems to suggest the Krenz and Folsom just might be headed for similar success. Outstanding tracks include the gospel-tinged "Sister Love's Cafe," the vivid biography of 'Mama's House," two sides of hope and change in 'Listen to October" and "Something Good" and the high-energy cover of Willie Dixon's '29 Ways." Also listen out for very nice acoustic guitar work from producer Wyatt Easterling.

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