Second Sight:

JAMBASE

The album ignites from the speakers like the burst of a flame, immediately sending one back to the simpler times of campfire tales, rocking chairs and horse drawn carriages. Corinne West's voice glides effortlessly over the bed of expert musicianship, powerfully crafting interwoven melodies to rest your weary thoughts on. The songs are uplifting yet possess a calming comfort, giving the album the energy of a refreshing breeze.

"Hand Full of Gold" stands out as a crafted masterpiece, painting the picture of an unwelcome sunrise to a confessing soul dreading an overwhelmed day. While we can all relate to such pressures, the message of the song is a balm for lost love and dented aspirations - a beautiful, poetic tribute to finding one's way where the crescendo interlude wins praise for the space between the notes and its ability to guide one on their path towards the mountainous horizon ahead.

West has assembled an all-star cast of legends for this studio effort including producer Mike Marshall, Jerry Douglas, Tony Furtado, Darol Anger, Todd Phillips, Chris Webster, John Burr, Scott Amendola, Anne Bacon and Charlie Edsal. It's clear from the output that this ensemble has clicked on many levels, and one can only hope that this grouping will meet again for encore performances with West in the live setting.

If you didn't know her name before, Second Sight is sure to put Corinne West on the map and garner repeated listens as you settle down from that hectic day, kick up your feet and dream of better times.

~ Andy Gadiel

MAVERICK MAGAZINE

With Bob Harris already amongst her fans, this album could be a catalyst to greater things. If you love bluegrass music, but with a smattering of folk, rock and Americana thrown in for good measure, then you will adore this album.

Corinne West is a brilliant songwriter with a powerfully eloquent singing voice. Whether she is singing a real heartfelt ballad like Roses To Rust, or a barnstorming bluegrass number like Diamonds To The Wind her vocals are high class. All Good Things is a fabulous folk song with a Celtic feel to it, and the title track is another great bluegrass tune with very strong and impacting lyrics and vocals.

To make this album even more inviting to the record buyer is the top class musicians that Corinne has called upon to help out. Mike Marshall plays some amazing mandolin throughout, there is also the scintillating fiddle playing of Darol Anger, Tony Furtado on banjo and slide guitar, plus the world renowned Dobro master Jerry Douglas adds his talents to the proceedings. This past year has seen the releases of some very high quality bluegrass albums, this one can also be added to that list. DK

STRICTLY COUNTRY

Talent. Pure talent. Corinne's style is a mix of bluegrass, traditional country and folk. A great combination. Her vocals are best described as a folksy Loretta Lynn mixed with Tanya Tucker. A perfect example of this style is included in "Lost & Found." Other songs included on this unique album are "Eye of The Storm," "Hell Yes," "Hand Full of Gold," and the title track. However, the best song would have to be "Cabin Door." This is a beautiful song with a strong message. A message of hope and kindness, of a time gone by. West extends her vocal talents in a bluegrass Irish diddy with "All Good Things." Through this album, Corinne West takes the listener through a journey of life filled with wisdom. This album is an acoustic album filled with extraordinary talent.

AMERICANA ROOTS.COM

It doesn't suck to be Corinne West. She writes great songs, plays with top flight musicians, sports a killer voice and oh yes, has sultry good looks- she could easily be cast as a princess in a "Lord of the Rings"-type movie (hopefully a singing part). The recently released Second Sight is Corinne's second CD, both of which have been released on her own label, Make Records.

Corinne grew up in Northern California, but caught the wandering bug early on, dropping out of school at 15 to travel with a group of wandering artists and activists in a bus. Her grandfather helped instill a love for music even earlier than this, teaching a young Corinne the two-step in honkeytonks before she was even a teenager. Busking and bands followed the bus trips, but eventually she wanted the freedom of running her own show.

She is joined on the CD by a stellar group. Mike Marshall plays mandolin, Tony Furtado on slide guitar, Darol Anger on fiddle and Jerry Douglas on dobro to name some of them. I don't own every album Jerry Douglas has played on (who could?), but I can say I've liked every album I've heard that he is on. If I'm considering a CD and I see his name on it- deal done. I don't think he would let himself be associated with bad music. For Corinne to get him to play on just her second CD said a lot to me before I even gave the disc a spin.

The CD is a great collection of songs that range from frenetically paced bluegrass tunes to beautiful soft songs such as the closer Writing on the Wall. The other side of the Atlantic has already discovered West, and she toured England and Ireland earlier in 2007. She says this trip influenced her writing which is evident in the song All Good Things which definitely has a bit o' the Irish feel to it. Other highlights of the CD are the opener and title track "Second Sight," "Diamonds to the Wind" and "Gandy Dancer," all three of which are uptempo with some great playing, yet Corinne's voice never sounds strained or rushed. There is not a bad song on the CD. With this much talent and drive, I imagaine Corinne West will be an important artist on the music scene for some time. I hope to be able to review another CD of hers in the future here!

MIDWEST RECORDS.COM

Ok, Americana fans, if you aren't familiar with West yet, stick around and you will soon be. An organic success story on the rise, her writing and singing are so on point that her career is blossoming from the attention of fans with juice. For her second set, she got Mike Marshall to produce and he brought along the whole classic NAC team that he cut his teeth with almost 30 years ago, all of which have gone on to be genre definers.

Her international rep has grown by Beeb djs making her a personal crusade. This is the kind of hype that goes with rock records that wind up going nowhere, but perhaps Einstein equations are at work in the Americana world as it's provoking an equal but opposite reaction. This is a completely delightful set that demands your attention if you are looking for songs with something to say you want to hear again and music that is second to none. A stone cold winner throughout.

MONTROSE DAILY PRESS, COLORADO

I'm guessing you've never heard of Corinne West. I sure wasn't familiar with her when i received her new CD, Second Sight , in the mail. West, who took to the road at the tender age of fifteen is a masterful songwriter, winning awards at Kerrville Folk Festival. She has a distinct voice with echoes of another Californian, the late Kate Wolf. Educated on the streets West has a raw sincerity in her lyrics and her singing. For her second disc she chose Mike Marshall, a perennial performer at Telluride Bluegrass, to produce it which gave Corinne access to an A list of bluegrass musicians for the sessions.

Jerry Douglas is hot on his Dobro and Tony Furtado takes the banjo licks on the title track, a hot contemporary bluegrass tune. The autobiographical "Hell Yes" features Darol Anger on fiddle with Furtado on slide and Marshall on the mandolin. It's a get up and dance number. Celebrating a mountain top retreat where the "Cabin Door" is open welcoming friends and neighbors West makes you feel like you are sitting on the porch. It's a bluegrass breakdown on the toe tapping "Gandy Dancer". A heartbreak ballad, "Roses to Rust" is an old time blues song until the organ kicks in updating the sound. Bouncing to a two step beat, Marshall leads on guitar on "Lost & Found. Douglas's Dobro lends that high lonesome sound to the melancholy of West's voice on "Eye Of The Storm". Smoking bluegrass, "Diamonds To The Wind" with solos passed around brings in the whole band behind West's sharp phrasing.

Corinne West is on her way up. Great songs and powerful singing are going to take her far. Being able to collect a razor quick band for accompaniment on Second Sight is icing on the cake.

~ Dave Bowman

NO DEPRESSION

CORINNE WEST, Second Sight (Make). Corinne West's decision to allow renowned mandolinist Mike Marshall to produce her second album was a wise one, as he has pushed her to excel in ways she probably never thought possible. West's clear voice and emotional delivery are compelling, and she has a lot to say as a songwriter. There is a thread of confidence that pervades Second Sight, from the leadoff title track through the gospel inflections of "Roses to Rust." Neither pure bluegrass nor folk, West's repertoire covers a wide range that demonstrates her comfort with various genres. With backing by a who's who of acoustic pickers (Marshall, Jerry Douglas, Tony Furtado, Darol Anger), she has found a sound that fits her work.

~ JAMES KELLY

GREENMAN REVIEW

Corinne West is a California singer-songwriter whose music is contemporary folk in a bluegrass style. After producing her own debut album, she has made her sophomore release Second Sight with producer Mike Marshall and a stable of some of the best contemporary musicians in the genre. With world-class musicians like Jerry Douglas on dobro, Darol Anger on fiddle, John Furtado on banjo and slide guitar, and Marshall on mandolin, it'd be easy for a young, relatively inexperienced singer to be overwhelmed. That's not a problem for West, whose sturdy songs are matched by her slightly husky alto, which she's capable of kicking up a notch to an Appalachian-style holler.

The songs come in a variety of styles, including fairly straight bluegrass of the opener "Second Sight," the railroad ballad "Gandy Dancer" and the metaphysical meanderings of "Diamonds To The Wind." "Hell Yes," an autobiographical sketch about hitting the road and following your dream, is a sprightly shuffle with strong rhythm set by the double bass and a brushed snare; "Hand Full Of Gold" is a slow love ballad; and "Cabin Door" is a stately waltz-time "non-religious prayer" about her home. The highlights are the slow gospel burn of "Roses To Rust," complete with soulful organ, about leaving when your heart hits the floor; and the honky-tonk "Lost & Found," which would be right at home on a Linda Thompson record. These two songs, at tracks 6 and 7, would be a great double-sided single in the old days.

Corinne West has a lot going for her, especially songwriting and vocal chops, and it shows in the company she keeps. Watch for more from her, but don't miss this one.

~ Gary Whitehouse

JEFFERSON PUBLIC RADIO

"For the second straight time, Corinne West has landed on our best-of-the-year lists at Jefferson Public Radio. Second Sight continues to place her among the most masterful Americana singers and songwriters, and the stellar cast of musicians surrounding her support her elegant work with absolute grace. Indeed, one of the best albums of the year." Ain't nuthin' but the truth.

Eric Alan
Music Director

RELIX MAGAZINE

Corinne West is a throwback to a time when a delicate voice and acoustic backing were the epitome of good music. But rather than a nostalgia trip, Second Sight reaffirms that this timeless simplicity remains vital, even in the 21st century. With supple bluegrass backing from a who's-who of bluegrass veterans including Darol Anger, Jerry Douglas and Tony Furtado, West finesses her way through 11 compositions abounding with humble imagery and stoked by compositional clarity.

Heartbreak and redemption fare equally well on Second Sight, beautifully breaking the title track and setting "All Good Things" free. Branded with West's strong-yet-understated voice, Second Sight encapsulates the foregone simplicity of American music; a simplicity that begs to be revisited, which West does, delicately drifting across a refreshing string-picked breeze.

~ Jamie Lee

GONE COUNTRY MAGAZINE

Corinne West's self-produced, critically acclaimed, debut album, "Bound For The Living," earned her a reputation as one of the most successful songwriters to emerge on the Americana scene over the past few years. She took that reputation with her into her sophomore project and brought in Mike Marshall to produce "Second Sight," her brand new album. With Marshall behind the glass, Corinne West focused on her songwriting and as good as her debut album was, "Second Sight" takes everything she has already accomplished to the next level.

With a heavy dose of bluegrass influence thrown into the mix on songs like the up-tempo "Hell Yes," and "Gandy Dancer" to name a few, West will continue to gain accolades from the industry, but she also gives you a taste of her two-stepping influence on tracks like "Lost and Found," and continues to impress with her crafty songwriting on songs like "Second Sight," Eye of the Storm," etc…West enlisted the talents of Jerry Douglas, Darol Anger, and Tony Furtado to help bring her wonderful lyrics to life and combined with West's passionately delivered vocals they have more than delivered. Corinne West is the real deal and while the mainstream may shy away from music like hers, this is certainly an album that is well worth your time.

FREIGHT TRAIN BOOGIE

How do you compete/follow up against a spectacular first release? If your name is Corinne, the answer's simple: release something titled Second Sight . A couple of years in the making, the wait was worth it. That dynamic voice is even better this go round: this girl can sing! Mainstays Mike Marshall on mandolin and Todd Phillips on bass are incomparable; add a guy that fiddles like Darol Anger, rope in Jerry Douglas for some dobro work and there's a combination that's hard to beat. Listening to the instrumental interplay of the breaks on these tunes is about as close to heaven as a bluegrass aficionado can get. The only thing that I could carp about here is that the disc is too short. Bluegrass is not my forte , but I could listen to music of this quality for hours.

~ Don Grant.

AMERICANA UK

Way out West and Outta Sight

Hailed by Bob Harris, Corinne West's second release 'Second Sight' is full of true country music and themes. Corinne's debut record 'Bound for the Living' was widely acclaimed on this new record her voice and song writing confirms the arrival of a real talent. On this record West is joined by a cast of top musicians (Tony Furtado, Jerry Douglas, Darol Anger, John Burr) and the record has been produced by Mike Marshall, reflecting the growing number of fine female singer songwriters coming out of the US, in stark contrast to the UK where we are weighed down with Katie Mulea's MOR schlock courtesy of Mike Batt.

Fiddle, mandolin, banjo, dobro and slide guitar all mesh together to enhance West's fine voice and personal lyrics. The record begins in familiar territory with the title track, as she explores her own story of growing up in America, leaving home on 'Hell Yes', while other themes explored include the timeless lost love (Hand Full of Gold' & 'Roses to Rust'). One of the key songs is 'Gandy Dancer' where West retells her story of meeting a Gandy Dancer (a railway worker aged 91 who tells Corinne of his life laying down the railroad lines in the North West).

Corinne joins Kendel Carson as one of the finds of 2007 – thanks Bob!

FEMINIST REVIEW

Thanks to the success of albums like the soundtracks to Oh, Brother Where Art Thou? and The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, as well as the appeal Alison Krause and Dolly Parton, mountain music is an alternative genre of country music that has inched its way slowly into the mainstream. Corinne West, a rising star who has garnered more accolades than hit records or sales, is one of the new generation's stalwarts, keeping the tradition of the rootsy music while gracefully introducing it to new generations.

West's sophomore album, appropriately titled, Second Sight, is a collection of strong songs that combine the artfulness of singer-songwriter folk with the stunning soul of bluegrass – a wonderful mix that results in one of the most idiosyncratic, though enjoyable country records of the year. Eschewing the glittery gloss of Nash Vegas, and avoiding the lyrical bombast and schmaltz of the country-pop that sells millions, West instead wraps her warm alto around strong intelligent lyrics that detail loss, love, and childhood. Her lyrics are intensely personal, though her simple and unadorned delivery makes them relatable. Second Sight is a minor classic-in-the-making, that should endear itself to NPR-listeners and those who seek out strong, organic records.

COUNTRY STARS ONLINE

This is my first listen to this lady's refreshing singing. Second Sight by Corinne West is produced very well by Mike Marshall. The recording has a very bright tone with a heavy bass sound too, so it covers a lot of the music spectrum. West's voice really shines as she sings with confidence and emotion. She has some very good acoustic and bluegrass musicians on the CD. Jerry Douglas, Darol Anger and Tony Furtado add their instruments to the mix.

"Hand Full Of Gold" is a sweet poetic ballad with some great backup vocals. Really nice mandolin fills by Marshall, the producer. A very sparse, but full sounding song.

"Cabin Door" is another sweet bluegrass song with some very nice guitar and it is a song about living in a cabin high in the Sierra Mountains which she did. Douglas has some very nice dobro parts. The song references a river nearby taking all of the shame to the sea to cleanse it.

"Gandy Dancer" is a song that I like a lot. Up-tempo bluegrass with a nice story about an older fellow who worked for the railroad as a Gandy Dancer, now done by machines. West really is a talented songwriter, with some great material here.

"Lost and Found" has a great groove going on. Some neat acoustic guitar and some nice deep bass. Another very sparse song.

"Eye Of The Storm" has some beautiful vocals and a very catchy melody with sweet mandolin and dobro. The drums on this acoustic song are perfect. Some more really inspiring lyrics about the peace of being in the eye of the storm. The instruments have a really nice swell like effect going on.

"Diamonds To The Wind" is a great upbeat bluegrass kicker. This band really sounds good. A really nice bluesy guitar break and Douglas takes off on the dobro. Boy, really nice banjo pickin' too here. This CD reminds me a bit of Carrie Hastler and Hard Rain's CD from earlier this year.

West has written a great selection of songs here and I think her group along with the supporting cast make this disc special. It is real refreshing to hear some traditional based music that has a contemporary feel to it. This is her second CD, she produced her first CD herself. I see West as only getting better, a real great addition to the Americana market.

~ Jim Moulton, CSO Staff Journalist

Bound for the Living:

Some days I think that I've got one of the best jobs going, and the day that this disc hit my mailbox was one of them. If I was forced to label it, which I'm always a bit gun-shy of doing to anything anyhow, I'd have to call it bluegrass, but that's like calling Picasso a painter.

This lady has a voice that simply soars; think early Natalie Merchant after enunciation lessons. She's surrounded herself with a coterie of excellent traditional bluegrass instrumentalists, but the end product is anything but traditional, and that's what I love about the younger musical generation. While they respect the roots of their art, they refuse to be constrained by them.

Corinne takes a dash of folk, a bit of country, adds them to a bluegrass base and cooks up a style and product that is hers alone. Writing eight of the songs, and co-writing another, she displays a remarkable empathy for the everyday people and situations that comprise our lives in this real world. Either she has crammed a lot of living into her years, or she is one hell of a perceptive observer. I suspect a bit of both. Nonetheless, you can't go wrong with this one. 5 STARS!!

~ Don Grant ~ Freight Train Boogie

When I write I really try to avoid comparing the project I'm reviewing with other musicians and recordings. When I read one like that the comparison is weak or the reviewer references someone with whom I am unfamiliar. Sometimes though, I cannot help myself, especially when I think the comparison will be flattering. Such is the case with Corinne who has an extraordinarily beautiful voice and the comparison I'll draw is to Natalie Merchant. Both have a sweet, pleasing sound that somehow combines a breathy huskiness with clear, resonant tones. There is some similarity in phrasing and lilt. Both are excellent songwriters.

But Corinne is no cheap knock-off or imitation. Ms. Merchant is clearly in the pop rock genre, whereas Corinne's music, though very melodic, does not stray from a lively acoustic, folk sound. She is accompanied effectively by wonderful acoustic guitar picking, mandolin, bass, and, on a few tracks, fiddle and Dobro. James Nash of the Waybacks needs to be pointed out for his delightful and facile pickin' on both guitar and mandolin on this recording. Corinne arranged and sang perhaps the best version I've ever heard of the simple, heart-breaking, traditional song 'Railroad Boy.' She has written touching "bookend" songs, 'Mother To Child' and 'Father To Son' in the best of old folk traditions.

Her best song is 'Angel,' which she points out she wrote on April 29, 2002; the only song which claims an actual day and thus must carry a special significance to her. This is one of those transcendent songs that transports us away from the minutia of our dreary day and lets us see into another world. While listening to this song, I'm almost remembering a dream. While listening to this song, my broken, cynical heart almost believes that miracles are possible. For there is magic in this creation, the magic of love and fear of lightness and darkness... and angels, blessed angels rescuing love...

The gathering of Angels in the streets
and in the towns,
In the cities, in the valleys in the fields.
They place the cold love that has fallen to the ground
In their wings,
That it may heal

You know, while listening again to this recording I think I had it backwards... it is Natalie Merchant who should be flattered at being compared to Corinne. "Bound For the Living" is joining my short list of the Best Americana CDs of 2003. And there are over 58 minutes of music on this CD.

Bill Groll for Austin Americana