by Paul T. Mueller
Caroline Rose could hardly have chosen a more appropriate title for her first full-scale CD. On I Will Not Be Afraid, the Vermont-based singer-songwriter comes across as absolutely fearless about doing things her way, from her sometimes obscure lyrics to her somewhat offbeat arrangements.
Rose is only in her mid-20s, but she’s been living the life of a traveling musician for a while. Travel and freedom are recurring themes on the album’s 11 songs, all Rose originals. “When you walk you walk alone/You pray no one will bind you,” she sings on “When You Go.” And in the chorus of “Let Me In,” she declares, “We are young, we’re free/And we don’t need anyone.”
While embracing the freedom of the road, Rose also gleefully sneers at the touchstones of more traditional lifestyles. In “Red Bikini Waltz” she counts them off: red bikinis, Lamborghinis, tans, tasteless beers, tacky houses and so on. “What they don’t know,” she sings, “is those people’ve got nothing that lasts.”
Rose is honest enough to acknowledge that freedom sometimes comes with a dark side. “It’s a wonder I’ve got two legs to stand on,” she sings on “America Religious.” “I drink myself blind uncurtailed by moderation/’Stand on me’ I’ll stand on you/Footloose, disillusioned and blue.”
Rose’s sound ranges from folk to indie rock to country, in various combinations, with some gospel and rockabilly thrown in. There is a lot of excellent musicianship on this album, anchored by Rose’s guitar (she’s equally proficient playing electric or acoustic). Rose also plays organ, harmonica and cello on some tracks. The rest of the core band consists of Jer Coons on drums, mandolin, lap steel and piano (he and Rose shared production duties) and Pat Melvin on bass; both also supply backing vocals. Violinist Ben Lively and bassist Ed Grasmeyer make nice contributions to “America Religious.”
Rose’s lyrics could probably benefit from a bit more focus – despite her instrumental prowess, she comes across as a poet-turned-musician – but I Will Not Be Afraid is an impressive start. “No matter what all comes my way/I will not be afraid,” Rose sings on the gospel-ish title track. That attitude has taken her a long way already, and it should serve her well in the future.