40 Acres (CD - 1999)

Caedmon's Call: Derek Webb (vocals, acoustic, 6- & 12-string electric guitars, banjo); Cliff Young (vocals, acoustic guitar); Danielle Young (vocals); Randy Holsapple (harmonica, accordion, piano, Wurlitzer piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond B-3 organ, Mellotron); Garett Buell (marimba, tabla, dumbek, djembe, surdo, udu, tambourine, trash cans, percussion); Aric Nitzberg (acoustic & electric basses); Todd Bragg (drums).

Additional personnel: Glenn Rosenstein (6-string acoustic & 12-string electric guitars, solguitar, dulcimer); Keith Rodger (electric guitar); Phil Madiera (lap steel guitar, accordion); John Catchings (cello); Nashville Recording Symphony (strings); Matt Rollings (piano, Hammond B-3 organ).

Engineers: Steve Bishir, Glenn Rosenstein, Mike Purcell.

Recorded at The Castle, Franklin, Tennessee.

Recording information: Castle, Franklin, TN.

Caedmon's Call's 1999 effort, 40 Acres, doesn't disappoint. It shows off the group's broadening concerns, with songs like "Table for Two," which wistfully expresses coming to terms with being single. It also shows off their expanding musical interests, with songs like the rollicking, piano-based "Daring Daylight Escape." This album carries on their trademark honesty through songs like "Petrified Heart" and "Shifting Sand," and encourages with songs like "Climb On (A Back That's Strong)" and "Faith My Eyes." Although by the end the songs start to sound a little bland, 40 Acres is a fruitful, worthwhile listen. It doesn't have the strength of their previous albums, but it does move Caedmon's Call, and their fans, in some new directions while being faithful to their purpose. ~ Melinda Hill

Caedmon's Call is another outfit inspired by the late 1990s "No Depression" school of bands. These groups draw upon the rich musical past of America: folk, pre-"Nashville Sound" country, earthy rock bands like The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Flying Burrito Brothers, sidestepping mainstream rock, country and pop. Caedmon's Call lean more towards the folk/singer-songwriter side--acoustic guitars are in the forefront, keyboards provide shading and electric guitars and drums provide punch.

The vocals (both male & female) have a warm, plaintive quality, and it's likely that these folks have Band, Jerry Jeff Walker and Pure Prairie League albums in their collections. 40 ACRES has a very nice homey feel to it, almost like the group has plopped down in your living room to tell stories. This album is something nice to do for yourself after a hard day, especially if you like the aforementioned groups and early Shawn Colvin (whose "Climb On" they cover--and very nicely, at that). minimize