The folk scene still has some old-timers who detest the use of electric instruments under any circumstances and believe that the last thing folk artists should do is allow themselves to be influenced by rock, but folkies who are that antiquated in their thinking have become harder and harder to find. Folk and rock formed an alliance in the '60s, and that influence has grown much stronger since then. But having modern influences doesn't mean that one's roots cannot run deep, and Georgia-born folk-rocker
Madeline Adams has no problem being both rootsy and modern on
White Flag. This 2009 release draws on a variety of influences that includes, among others,
Joni Mitchell,
Natalie Merchant,
Sarah McLachlan,
Jenny Lewis, and
Janis Ian;
Adams has been affected by singer/songwriters of different generations, and her ability to be influenced by the past without going out of her way to emulate it is a definite plus on introspective originals such as "Rain, Fire and Brimstone," "Black Out," "This Train," and "Telephone Daydream."
Adams is a singer/songwriter in the true sense; she wrote everything on this solid 41-minute CD, and she has an appealingly clear voice that serves her material well. Artists who fit that description usually have no problem being self-contained and uniting their vocals with nothing more than an acoustic guitar; however, the guitar-playing
Adams enjoys the backing of a full band on
White Flag, although her musicians obviously appreciate the value of subtlety and don't overplay. So even though
Adams is backed by bass, drums, keyboards, euphonium, and even trumpet, this album maintains an intimate sound. As both a vocalist and a songwriter,
Adams is consistently memorable throughout
White Flag. ~ Alex Henderson