Mercy Now

Price: $6.21

Artist: Mary Gauthier

Falling Out of Love
Mercy Now
Wheel Inside the Wheel
I Drink
Just Say She s a Rhymer - Mary Gauthier, Howard, Harlan
Prayer Without Words
Your Sister Cried - Mary Gauthier, Eaglesmith, Fred
Empty Spaces
Drop in a Bucket
It Ain t the Wind, It s the Rain

A spark of redemption illuminates even the darker songs on Mercy Now, the fourth album by Mary Gauthier (pronounced go-shay). The influence of her native Louisiana pervades her Southern Gothic songcraft, which first won an audience in the folk clubs of Boston. After a series of releases on independent labels, her Lost Highway debut seems destined to expand that audience significantly. Within her mature, weather-beaten artistry, Dylanesque metaphysics go to Mardi Gras on Wheel Inside the Wheel, the naked emotion and eye for detail of Your Sister Cried and Empty Spaces conjure comparisons with Lucinda Williams, and the plainspoken I Drink and Drop in a Bucket have the bittersweet bite of the best of John Prine. The spare arrangements of producer/guitarist Gurf Morlix, punctuated by cello, organ, and harmonica, give the material plenty of room to breathe. Gauthier s vocals are half-spoken, half-sung, and all soul. --Don McLeese

life-changing song - The song Mercy Now is life-changing. It s as beautiful as anything I ve ever heard, and full of mercy. What a miracle of a song.

SUPERB - I missed this album but picked up on I Drink via Bob Dylan s Theme Time Music Hour CD. Mary Gauthier is the real thing - arguments about whether the Hammond B3 has a place in country are moot (Booker T. + Willie Nelson on Georgia on my Mind??) - this is soul music of the highest order. If it were the 1970s Millie Jackson would have I Drink complete with rap on the charts. And Mary s new album is equally good.

EXCELLENT!! - Mary Gauthier has the most beautiful, haunting voice. Mercy Now really shows her New Orleans background, in both lyrics, and instrumental choices. She is an incredible story teller, putting her life out there for her fans to pick through.

Critiquing the critics - February 22, 2008 Clotblaster complains Mary Gauthier s lyrics cannot be classified as poetry. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines poetry as a writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm. By that definition or any other, Gauthier s songs unquestionably qualify as poetry. Beyond that, whether one enjoys her poetry is simply a matter of personal taste. Clotblaster obviously does not, but based upon the other reviews posted this is decidedly a minority view. Mary s many admirers include those responsible for her invitation to the Newport Folk Festival, and such notable singer-songwriters as John Prine and Guy Clark, for whom she has opened, as well as Bob Dylan and many others. I realize Mary s music is not going to be universally admired -- what music is? But I love it -- it hits my musical G spot -- that specific emotional response the poet seeks to touch. As for criticism of Mary s twang, this gal grew up in Louisiana. If you haven t noticed, folks down there talk that way -- naturally. To A Kid s Review, if you ve got a cat that can sing like Mary, I suggest you get an agent. You and that cat can make some real money.

Intense Real song writing - As a struggling songwriter myself,I find it very refreshing that an album by Mary Gauthier[Mercy Now] found its way into main stream America. Its really good to know that good music with great real lyrics are still here too stay. Im a new Fan. Thanks Mary. Truly Morris Cardenas

Mercy Now