Sarah Jarosz knows no bounds. Building on her promising debut “Song Up In Her Head,” the new “Follow Me Down” is both a genre-bridging and compelling recording.
Jarosz is a talented mandolinist and banjo player with an inviting voice and an education at the New England Conservatory. She taps all of those resources on “Follow Me Down,” while also drawing on an all-star cast of folk and Americana music artists.
Shawn Colvin contributes harmony vocals on the album opener “Run Away” (co-written by Alyssa Bonagura) and Darrell Scott and Bela Fleck join her on “Come Around.”
Jerry Douglas plays on a striking cover of Bob Dylan’s “Ring Them Bells,”
while the Punch Brothers collaborate on a stark version of Radiohead’s “The Tourist.”
Despite the many talented guests, this is very much Jarosz’ album, at times highly accessible, at others distant and ethereal. All of it is impeccably performed.
We all miss record stores, but this album would have made store managers crazy. Do we file it under “Folk?” “Alternative?” “Americana?” “World Music?”
Of course, in a digital world, that’s all replaced by “If you enjoy the Punch Brothers, you’ll enjoy “Follow Me Down.”
And you will.
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