There are many factors to recommend Emily Singleton's Spirit on the Prowl including good songs, musicianship, and snappy performances. The title cut is a cross between full-band bluegrass and folk, a hybrid that sounds fresh and up to date. Singleton also has a nice, light vocal tone, and the backup vocals create a rich soundscape. There's also a good deal of variety, with buyout folk originals like "Shadow of a Mountain" and the Celtic-flavored "Rise Up My Love." There are likewise a number of nice takes on traditional material including "Little Maggie" and "Working on a Building." But despite the solid performances, mix, and arrangements, something is lacking in the overall production of Spirit on the Prowl, rendering the sound too bright. This effect is most evident with the vocals, especially when the singers stretch toward the high notes. It's as though the voices were recorded improperly, capturing an unattractive vocal grain at the higher end of the spectrum. As a result, the poor production distracts from excellent material and excellent taste in delivering it on Spirit on the Prowl. Singleton reveals a great deal of potential here, though the work itself is marred by poor craftsmanship.
© Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. /TiVo