“What Matters Most”

by Vince Melamed

Vince Melamed is known more for his songs than his name or singing voice. And his songs are usually better known as being someone else’s songs. Melamed is a songwriter and a sideman. His songs include Trisha Yearwood’s “Walkaway Joe,” John Anderson’s “Hillbilly Hollywood,” Boy Howdy’s “She’d Give Anything,” Restless Heart’s “Tell Me What You Dream,” Ty Herndon’s “What Mattered Most,” Phil Vassar’s “I’ll Take That As A Yes.” Now, just remember that all of those songs are really from the mind and pen of Vince Melamed. On the CD, “What Matters Most,” Melamed finally gets to perform his own songs. There’s a rock sensibility to many of Melamed’s lyrics that get a country flavor from a fiddle and guitar twang. He even sees himself as a rock & roll guy having come to Nashville from Los Angeles back in the ’80s because he heard Music City was the town for songwriters. Melamed has a songwriter’s voice, meaning he isn’t the greatest singer in the world. Like many songwriters though, his lyrics serve his voice. This album, which is the flagship release of the new Adroit Records label, works and that’s what matters most.

“Songs Up In Her Head”

by Sarah Jarosz

Given the sweet photo of 17-year-old Sarah Jarosz on the back of her CD, “Song Up In Her Head,” a listener may never expect a haunting masterpiece such as “Shankill Butchers.” She pits her beautiful voice against this great chorus: “Cause everybody knows / If you don’t mind your mother’s words / A wicked wind will blow / Your ribbons from your curls / Everybody moan, everybody shake / The Shankill Butchers want to catch you awake.” This song has a bluegrass tinge like the other songs on this album, but adds a chilling “Sgt. Pepper”-esque calliope. Yet, it is Jarosz’s voice that lingers across the arrangement of this haunting song. Meanwhile, her voice is as sweet on other songs as that aforementioned photograph. Yet, it is as soulful and wise as the voice of a much older singer. Luckily, Sarah Jarosz didn’t leave the songs up in her head. She lets them spill out to share with anyone who cares to listen.