Love The Spinning Leaves release: 10-30-09 vinyl release: 1-23-10 Ropeadope Records Track Listing 01. The Promontory Wind 02. Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try 03. Bridges For Free 04. Transistor Radio 05. Together 06. Marigolds 07. Bad Dream 08. The Morning 09. A Tale Of The Northern Lights 10. Sad Maggie 11. Fire 12. Lonely Firefly

The Spinning Leaves is the Philly folk group of Barbara Gettes and Michael Baker who share songwriting credit (both individually and jointly) on their newest release ‘Love’.  An album that shows The Spinning Leaves at their best – delivering musical greatness through the words they so eloquently sing and the music they play so wonderfully.  The two major themes that run through this entire album are love (as the album title would suggest) and a sense of freedom.  ‘Love’ starts with “The Promontory Wind” a song that opens with some welcoming shouts, clear cut sound of a harmonica, and at that instant I knew that I was in for some folk fun – The Spinning Leaves style.  “Bridges For Free” is probably the closest to being the title track and holds the powerful lyrics: “Love landed somewhere in Philadelphia and sat with a movement – a movement for change “.  “Transistor Radio” is a fun sounding tune and an excellent display of Gettes’ beautiful voice.  The only spoken-word track is “Together” as told by a child.  “Marigolds” has a very interesting arrangement (gotta love that sitar) that works so perfectly with Baker’s vocal tone and is smoothed over by a precious chorus.  “Through endless skies they danced and twirled with those who’ve passed on from this world” – sometimes you just have to stop and marvel in the lyrical imagery of “A Tale of the Northern Lights” and many of the other songs on this album.  “Lonely Firefly” ends the album with a hootenanny or sorts and the final cry of “Freedom!”  The Spinning Leaves’ ‘Love’ is one mighty fine listening experience for it takes on so many different styles all based in some form of folk music that I’m sure many will enjoy as much as I do.

The Spinning Leaves – “Lonely Firefly” (from: ‘Love’)

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Tags: Barbara Gettes, Love, Michael Baker, reviews, The Spinning Leaves