My Girl The River - Cardinal in the Snow

  by Lisa Torem

published: 6 / 10 / 2020

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My Girl The River aka vocalist/guitarist Kris Wilkinson shines on new release ‘Cardinal in the Snow.’ The personnel also feature her partner, bassist/songwriter Joe Hughes, and even daughter Ruby on ukulele and light harmonies. Wilkinson’s earnest vibrato on ‘Something in the Water’ recalls Joni Mitchell. “I will drink until I choke,” she commands. The clarity continues: “The river of Life, until I get it right, until I don’t hurt.” A spoken word narrative provides a clever twist. ‘I Try’ “to be a good daughter and then I call you…” It’s an honest, revealing song about facing and overcoming our shortcomings. ‘You Do Not Deserve My Tears’ renders a strong and compelling statement of dignity. The tears “are reserved for those who love me.” ‘Christmas in July’ was a co-write with Laura Cantrell. It’s impossible not to feel a deep sympathy for this song’s broken-hearted protagonist. The pedal steel licks add just the right pathos. The arrangement also underscores the artist’s impressive vocal range. ‘Hot Chicken’ is pure fun. “You touch your lips with my fingertips,” she confesses. With clanky guitar licks and delightful saloon piano, Wilkinson has the confidence to move off-centre. ‘Won’t Find Our Bones’ relies on a strong sense of mystery. It’s a complete departure from the earlier tunes and what else follows. “I am a misfit from the island like a cardinal in the snow,” she softly sings. This folksy arrangement fills the soul, like a gentle breeze on a humid summer morning. “Do I bend? No, I don’t bend.” It’s a sweet but strong message. ‘He Doesn’t Know He’s Gone’ is a great vehicle for My Girl The River, allowing her softness and strength to carry off the bittersweet theme with conviction. ‘Needy’ starts out as a deeply personal song sung to a suffocating lover but then the “B” section celebrates the subject of “freedom”. The free-wheeling guitar interlude is a Beatlesque wonder. ‘The Spark’ and ‘Slow Mover’ reside on a sleepier tract. On ‘The Last Branch,’ Carla Luft’s banjo adds just the right touch. The song’s outro. brings it up to the speed as a memorable closer.

Track Listing:-

1 Something in the Water
2 I Try
3 I Try
4 Christmas in July
5 Hot Chicken
6 Won't Find Our Bones
7 Cardinal in the Snow
8 He Doesn't Know He's Gone
9 Needy
10 The Spark
11 Slow Mover
12 The Last Branch

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