[dar-list] Back to Basics

[Shawn Proctor]

Some food for thought:

One thing I've been thinking for some years now is I wish Dar would
strip the production on the CD down for an album.  Sort of like how
Bruce Springsteen has albums/concerts with the E Street Band and then he
puts out "Ghost of Tom Joad" and "The Seeger Sessions" and does a tour
to accompany them.

It's true that you can't ever go home again, but "Mortal City" and "The
Honesty Room" were what made me a Dar Williams fan.

The way the newer CDs have been produced, I more enjoy seeing Dar
perform them live without the band than listening to the pop-leaning
versions on the albums.  On "Mortal City," for example, her guitar's
sound is clearer; the instrumentation is careful and effective; and the
songs seem to come across more earnestly.  Though the recent albums are
very good, I wish there were room for them to co-exist as Springsteen
does when he is performing more traditionally-styled tunes.

Cheers,

-Shawn Proctor