I Own That CD! - Garrison Starr

Many singers have come along combining pop smarts and Americana grit. The late 1990s and early 2000s were filled with them. Garrison Starr was one of them, but with a voice of remarkable power and clarity, she released well crafted and intelligent songs.

In 2002, inspired by her move from the deep south to Los Angeles, Starr released Songs From Take-Off To Landing to critical acclaim and a spot on my shelf. It’s today’s feature on I Own That CD!

It had been five years since her major label debut, which contained the fantastic single “Superhero”. The songs for Songs From Take-Off To Landing started on an airplane. She began reassessing her position in the world. That revelation came during a flight from Nashville to Los Angeles as she looked out the plane window and saw a new world.

The CD kicks off with the very theme of what she was writing about, “Somethin’s Gotta Change”. A rocking reflective track that has Starr singing to herself more than her audience. Keeping the tempo up, “Big Sky” is an optimistic song about rediscovery and learning from others. It’s a perfect one-two punch to get things going.

Later on, Starr gets beautiful backing vocals from Mary Chapin Carpenter on the somber, gorgeous “Silent Night”. Another admirer, Steve Earle, helps out with vocals on “Serves Me Right”.

Many have heard Melissa Etheridge in Starr’s early work - Songs transitions to more of a Lucinda Williams/Neko Case sounding release. Dipping more into the alt-country world with a mature, gritty nature.

Two of my real favorites come later on - “Hardest Part of Living” is heartbreaking with Starr asking her lover to break her hear, because she knows she’ll ultimately be stronger because of it.

“Knucklehead” closes us out with a rollicking song that’s either aimed right at Starr herself - kicking herself to rock and sing - or at the music industry. Either way, it’s a great way to close out a satisfying release.

Starr has gone on to release numerous albums, but to me her best has always been Songs. And if you’d like to hear why, you can borrow my copy.