Meg Baird

Meg Baird is best known as the female vocalist and founding member of psych-folk outfit Espers. Using her solo debut to showcase her old-timey folk-singing chops, Baird was primed to establish herself among the finest in the current traditional American folk scene. Her latest release, Seasons on Earth, will bring her further along, putting the spotlight on her songwriting. Dear Companion consisted mainly of Baird's interpretations of folk standards, with the exception of two original cuts. A braver Baird now reverses the formula on her sophomore LP. Limiting covers to two tracks, the album finds her sculpting her material into old-world ballads that sound as authentic as the traditional tunes she reveres. Her vocal delivery remains intimate and expressive, taking on an ethereal medieval quality whether accompanied by the dobro or harp. This isn't an album you just let play in the background (although it's cohesive and gentle enough for it). To fully appreciate Seasons on Earth, you need to stop and really listen. Shifts in instrumentation and nuances within the compositions help keep her songs distinct. Without such attention, it would be too easy to dismiss the record as monochromatic.