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Message music has a proud history, dating back to the dawn of recording. It’s interesting that there hasn’t been that much of it the past few years, considering how society’s drift has definitely tilted toward a time of concern. Maria Muldaur is here to change that. She gathered a group of songs to celebrate peace, and hopefully make a difference at such a pivotal point in the world’s affairs. From people like Bob Dylan, Allen Toussaint, Earl King, Buddy Miller, Marvin Gaye and (yes) Garth Brooks to a handful of others, this album’s songwriting spirit is out front and in your face. Muldaur might be best known for her hit “Midnight at the Oasis,” but, to her, playtime is over and it’s now or never to figure out a better way forward. Her voice is a powerhouse, and she is not pulling her punches an inch. Behind her is the Women’s Voices for Peace Choir, blending in and out to take this music into a religious-like zone of feeling. Dylan’s “John Brown” strips things down to their barest elements, and Maria Muldaur bears down like she’s shaking the photo of the dead soldier right in front of you. Lucky for her, too, band members David Torkanowsky, Tony Braunagel, Hutch Hutchinson and Shane Theriot can play anything, each having enough experience to turn on a dime as they veer through a half-dozen different styles like they’re out on a joyous ride across America. The crowning moment, though, is “War.” First recorded by Edwin Starr, Muldaur slows the song down and takes it straight into the swamp, putting some serious voodoo on it, not to mention her own fiddle. Now that’s above and beyond the call of duty. Someone give this woman a commendation--quick.
