Gather Round
Like most everyone else, during the pandemic Alison Young was holed up in her home and found it nearly impossible to perform live except on social media from her living room. However, Young continued to write songs and to hone her craft as a singer songwriter. Gather Round is the impressive culmination of her efforts. It’s a stunning collection of songs about love, death, and the journey in between, and the music features Young’s usual cast of outstanding guest musicians, notably The Swinging Steaks. While the singing and the music reflect Young’s trademark style and growing prowess as a lyricist and composer, Gather Round also pays homage to old style country, the blues, and rock and roll. Most of the songs on Gather Round are a little less personal than many on Trans American Country. Instead, Gather Round offers glimpses into the lives of others.
With its smorgasbord of instruments, the title track, ”Gather Round”, is a joyous celebration of American Roots music and traditional American community life. The rest of the album includes a fishin’ song (“Big Mouth on the Line”), a shout out to Tennessee (“Living on Country Time”, and an ode to The United States (“To Cross the Great Divide”. However, as usual, most of the songs are about love and intimacy because these are what make us tick!
Recorded at Woolly Mammoth Sound, Waltham MA 2022, mixed and engineered by David Westner, and featuring Jamie Walker and the Swinging Steaks. Mastered by Alex McCollough at True East, Nashville, TN.
Trans American Country
Trans American Country grapples with with Alison’s state of emotional upheaval and transformation during 2017 and 2018, as well as the changing political landscape of the United States. While the tracks still carry the optimism and playfulness of her first album, the undercurrent leans more toward the personal and political, connecting national issues of immigration, diversity, and patriotism, with her own experiences of expressing her identity as a trans woman.
“I Believe in You” asks us to have faith that belief and reason can work side by side. “Trans-American” and “My Country Too” are both re-workings of old punk songs, the first a trans anthem, the second a rejection of anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ policies and rhetoric. “My Real Super Hero” and “Girl in a Wheelchair” both celebrate the courage and contributions of every day folks. Young does her due diligence by crooning out a few heartfelt love songs that are sure to tug your heartstrings.
Recorded at Woolly Mammoth Sound, Waltham MA 2018, mixed and engineered by David Westner, and featuring the awesome musicianship of Jamie Walker and the Swinging Steaks
Country Dreamin’
Country Dreamin’ is a collection of songs written over a several year period. While each track is unique, almost all of them share a sense of humor and a playfulness, which begins with the lyrics (making light of folks’ obsession with size, or penchant for particular sex acts) and carries into to the recording (imitations of cow moos). And, of course, what self-respecting country music record would be complete without a rousing patriotic drinking song?
The title track “Country Dreamin’” is an ode to country music itself, layering banjo, dobro, soaring backing vocals, and honky tonk piano and fiddle, speaking to the sense of freedom and joy that comes from loving and playing music.
Recorded at Woolly Mammoth Sound, Waltham MA 2017, mixed and engineered by David Westner, featuring Jamie Walker and the Swinging Steaks