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Our Review

Ah, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! If you love the honest beauty of folk/bluegrass singers like grammy-winning Alison Krauss (as I do), then you absolutely must run, not walk, to acquaint yourself with the phenomenal Mindy Smith, whose alt-country, folk-rock vibes are dynamite on My Holiday. In fact, Krauss herself makes a guest appearance on the CD, providing delicate harmonies on the oh-so-angelic Away in a Manger. This super-cool seasonal release blends five familiar chestnuts with six wholly-new creations to delight music fans of all stripes. Sweet!

Smith's voice is undeniably excellent--crystalline pure, yet warm; vulnerable, yet confident. Her songwriting skills are equally top-notch; the lyrics are smart, and the melodies are addictive. Her intimate title track leads off the album in wistful-but-uplifting stylings, telling us about the artist's artificial tree in the context of world peace. Terrific, too, is Smith's I Know the Reason. The track has an exceptionally timeless quality ("no matter what the season, it's always Christmas time"), speaking of love on multiple levels with country music twangs and sensational harmonies (with Thad Cockrell). Smith's sweetly lilting Santa Will Find You has a simple, almost island-like quality, assuring us all that our personal beacons will bring Santa to us, no matter where we are. The artist also impresses on traditional fare such as Silver Bells and The Christmas Song.

My Holiday ends extremely well with Mindy Smith's original Come Around, a rockin' ditty that is a bit Beatle-esque; she entreats us all to come around, leaving politics and other differences behind, to celebrate faith and peace. I'm ready! Where do I sign up?

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

Mindy Smith, vocals

Other Vocals:
Alison Krauss - harmony vocal on Away in a Manger (courtesy Rounder Records)
Thad Cockrell - duet on I Know the Reason
Greg Woodruff - harmony vocals on Come Around
Jen Cohen and Mindy Smith - harmony vocals on Come Around
Chely Wright - harmony vocal on Follow the Shepherd HOme

Musicians:
Eddie Bayers - drums
Michael Rhodes - bass
Bryan Sutton - acoustic guitar
Kenny Vaughan - electric guitar
Lex Price - mandola
Andrea Zonn - violin & viola

Steve Cox - piano
Sam Levine - clarinet
Eric Darken - vibes

Paul Franklin - steel
Steve Buckingham - tambourine
Dave Jacques - bass
Will Kimbrough - electric guitar
Paul Griffith - drums

Produced by Steve Buckingham and Mindy Smith
"Come Around" produced by Mindy Smith
Production Assistant: Lesli Halingstad




From the Website:

It took eight years for Mindy Smith to become an overnight sensation.

The world discovered her suddenly around '04; that's when she started winning awards, appearing on national TV, inspiring critics and artists to sing her praises (and her songs), and riding the momentum of One Moment More, her Vanguard debut.

But when she wasn't accepting Best New Artist honors from the Americana Music Association, sharing stages with the likes of Mavis Staples, Patty Griffin, Dolly Parton, and Emmylou Harris, or winging across the ocean to recruit new fans in the U.K., she was often doing the same thing she'd done when she was new to Nashville.

She was, in other words, in a room with a guitar, closing a door and coaxing music up from somewhere down inside.

Mindy Smith

My Holiday

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Track List