Singer songwriter Dar Williams is renowned in the folk community for her previous works; however, her twelfth album, Promised Land, released this September, has much more of a pop influence. This variation from her usual ballads allows her voice to reach those who might not have an interest in folk music.
When first listening to Promised Land most of the songs sound extremely similar; the only exceptions are the more up-tempo songs “It’s Alright” and “Go to the Woods”. However, if listeners are willing to spend more than a few moments sampling Williams’ work on You Tube or iTunes they may come to see the vast differences between her songs, which are found in the lyrics. The messages that Dar Williams tries to send to her audiences are often female oriented; she writes from personal experience about failing relationships in “The Easy Way” and “Troubled Times”. Not all of her songs have to do with love; the rather dark political song “Buzzer” clearly presents Williams’ opinion on the state of our nation and the peoples responsibility in a democracy.
The Boston native has had a loyal following of fans since she started her folk music career in 1990. After working in theatre in New York City, she found her true calling in the coffee shops of Boston where she was able to present her strong opinions through song. She is an important player on the folk scene, as she opened for the renowned Joan Baez and was a member in the band CryCryCry with Richard Shindell and Lucy Kapalansky. For those who do not care for folk music, Dar Williams is a pleasant alternative; she has made some of her most recent work sound very much like normal pop bands, while still maintaining the powerful suggestions and ideas found in folk music. Walpole High School students will probably recognize the song “February” from Williams’ 2005 album My Better Self, which was featured in the 2008 WHS Dance Company performance (the one with the curtain of leaves).
Promised Land features some very talented guest performers–including Marshall Crenshaw, Gary Louris from The Jayhawks, and Suzanne Vega–who all help to fill out the sound in songs like “The Tide Falls Away”. The song “Go to the Woods” , which addresses people’s fears, has a fresh spark with the youthful, lighter voice of Suzanne Vega, but Williams is not pushed out of the spotlight by this younger version of herself.
New listeners to Dar Williams’ usually mellow, folky songs might find the CD Promised Land too repetitive. They should instead start by buying a few songs on iTunes, like one of the CD’s many ballads along with “Go to the Woods” and “Buzzer”, two songs that vary from Williams’ lyrical style.
