A Review of the Carol McComb CD
"Little Bit of Heaven"

"Little Bit of Heaven"
by Carol McComb

copyright 2000
Liquidambar Music
P.O. Box 620310
Woodside, CA 94062
http://www.carolmccomb.com and
email:carol@carolmccomb.com

This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 12/04
mailto:celticfolkmusic@icogitate.com
"Kevin and Maxine’s Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"
http://www.icogitate.com/~celticfolkmusic/index.html

Carol McComb. Both a name and musician unfamiliar to me--which unfortunately was my loss until crossing paths with her latest CD. A veteran of the folk music scene, having recorded since the mid-70's for Asylum and Elektra Records, McComb resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and currently plies her trade locally and regionally.

She has an engaging, pleasing voice, actually sounding like Canadian songtress Anne Murray on a couple cuts. Her lyrics are fairly straightforward and she utilizes a full mix of instruments (including the Uilleann pipes!) as part of her songs' instrumentation.

The majority of her offerings count love as the subject matter.

"Watershed" depicts someone not yet having come to terms with a cleaved relationship. McCombs sings in the chorus:
"...I didn't see it coming
I didn't feel it fall
But in the silence of your leaving
I can hear it all..."
Similarly, an elusive partner, now an ex, is the subject matter of "Touch and Go." The chorus goes:
"...Time to go, time to realize
I looked with my heart and not my eyes
The truth's the same sad scenario
With you, it's always been touch and go..."
"Dreaming in Three-Quarter Time" features a lover still smitten with a departed beau as does "Simple Melody." With resistance dissipating towards a would-be lover, the protagonist remains mesmerized by dangerous attraction in "Only a Fool Would Be Taken In."

"Look at the Moon" is a song of reflection, one that requires some seasoned life experience to write. A nod to Mother Earth/Mother Nature summarizes "She Always Breaks My Fall." The spiraling downward life of a not-so-bad person who unfortunately makes wrong choices is the motif of "Bad Girl, Sad Girl."

The title cut, "Little Bit of Heaven," breaks the mold and celebrates a truly loving coupling. "Goodbye Song"is actually a rather uplifting, 'gospel-like' cut celebrating human interaction and companionship.

McCombs fittingly concludes with the dreamy cello-backed "Mary's Lullaby."

This is a pleasant release, with a winning combination of singing, writing and instrumentation. A mix of folk, country, a touch of bluegrass and western swing, McComb traverses the musical spectrum with equal aplomb.

McComb on vocals, acoustic guitar and dobro, is assisted by Anita Grunwald on fiddle, twin fiddles and harmony vocal; Bruce Kaphan on pedal steel, maracas and shaker; John Reischman on mandolin; Preston Carter on string bass; Keith Little on banjo and harmony vocal; William Coulter on acoustic baritone guitar; Rene West on string and fretless bass; Kevin Carr on whistle, concertina and Uilleann pipes; Laurie Lewis on string bass; Kathy Kallick on harmony vocal; Scott Nygaard on single string lead guitar and acoustic guitar; Ed Johnson on harmony vocal; Tony Marcus on harmony vocal; Jennifer Scott on harmony vocal; Carol Elizabeth Jones on harmony vocal; Kris Yenney on cello; Peter Tucker on drums; Piper Heisig on percussion.

Track List:

All songs by Carol McComb.
 Copyright © 1998-2008 Kevin & Maxine’s Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews. All rights reserved.

Ownership, copyright and title of this folk music CD review belongs to me, Kevin McCarthy. Ownership, copyright and title are not transferable or assignable to you or other parties regardless of how or if you or other parties use, copy, save, backup, store, retrieve, transmit, display, publish, modify or share the CD review in whole or in part. Please read the "Terms, Conditions and Disclaimer" section on my web site for additional information about using, quoting, or reprinting this CD review.

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