Linda Marks releases two albums a year, and each one is always a treat for the ears as well a balm for the heart and soul. Marks’ new Monuments Of Love ushers her listeners through these months of pandemic life with lively, lovely music and lyrical imagery of what life has become during these months of masks, social distancing, and vaccinations.
Title track “Monuments Of Love” finds the piano playing, singer-songwriter getting down to business listing the pillars of strength that have gotten many of us through the worst couple of years of our lives. This song weaves piano melody with moody string instruments and above that forlorn emotive layering rides Marks’ beautiful, supple vocal, an instrument in and of itself. Marks vocal climbs up over her own piano accompaniment and the two string players create a sensation that one has surmounted a daunting obstacle, the music feeling as triumphant as her lyrics.
Putting her most affectionate song ever onto this album makes abundant sense. “Noah Corgi Is The Boy From Ipanema” is a jazzy excursion into a playful animal song. Written about her dog, this tune builds upon Mark’s sensitive vocal, tender piano melody, and Dave Birkin’s breezy saxophone line. This might be the first time anyone has combined an animal theme lyrics with a lively, jazzy horn. It works. Marks’ dog is another of her monuments as her canine companion likely helped get her through these tense and curious times.
“Chapter 2020” ambles along on the strength of banjo notes, tasty little nuggets that makes this tune feel as intimate as a summer evening campfire singalong as well as something from a purer time in American music. Marks sings with a feel for old folk ballads, coating her vocal over the instrumentation like Pete Seeger used to let the words, without affectation, do the talking.
“Kindness” makes a valiant effort toward establishing relationships as another of the monuments of love. Twists and turns in the lyrical development allow Marks to depict romantic imagery and notions, dovetailing one scene into another until we see a movie vision of what kind of love can find us when we take our time. Marks’s lilting vocal melody contrasts well with a wispy lead guitar line, a backing vocalist raises the artistry of Marks’ heart warming chorus.
With moody cello, rippling mandolin, and a sturdy piano rhythm “My Father’s Boots” finds Marks exploring her father’s struggle with illness and his own temperament. Singing in an even, mid-tempo tone, Marks’ voice blends perfectly with a moody violin, keeping the listener engaged with her involving blend of forlorn musical and vocal expression.
Piano and violin must be two of Marks’ favorite things. “Broken Home” makes the most of both instruments as Marks’ chord progression feels like a forward march into peril as Jackie Damsky’s weepy violin line dives deeps into the min, a situation that has no easy solutions or escapes.
This singer-songwriter makes a wonderful point about the right timing in relationships. During “Is It Ever To Soon To Say I Love You.” Marks voice soars into her higher range and she sustains her vocal in an artsy, beautiful manner, contemplating the wonders and joys of simply letting someone know how you feel about them. A violin stirs the soul with a depth of emotive grist, making this a three dimensional number.
“Watch Over Me” rides a bumpy rhythmic line from Marks’ piano and a bouncy melody from Andy Daigle’s harmonica. Gritty banjo notes make the whole thing feel like this has an endless run, like a stream or brook. Marks’ lilting vocal melody perfectly captures the cutesy sweet nature of this song. Beneath the quaint thoughtfulness lies a stronger message about people looking out for one another.
“All One Human Race” comes in like a soft, tender whisper, a light piano progression with a gentle forward motion A quiet vocal approach from Marks lets her lyrics breathe and speak for themselves. She finesses each syllable, putting just enough emphasis per word to let her words travel a gentle climb in her song. As she travels along her melody line, the listener can feel this tune going to a good place as this singer-songwriters moves toward a noble destination.
Close out song “Prayers” sums up the pandemic theme of Marks’ album with a gentle, affectionate vocal and a lyrical concern for the broad sweeping changes of our times. This singer-songwriter weaves together the right touch on piano, light and tender, with an emotive violin, and other magic to create a magic carpet ride, a wafting, tender message of love.
Marks has done it again. She has again worked with producer Doug Hammer at Dreamworld Productions to come up with an engaging involving sound. Along for the ride this time were Bo Winiker, Craig Akin, Dave Birkin, Jackie Damsky, Joe Sabourin, Andy Daigle, Judy Daigle, Mark Bishop Evans, Steve Latanision, Alice Hasen, Valerie Thompkins. This Monuments Of Love album proves to be part of her consistent track record of releasing perfect jazzy, singer-songwriter albums with a hint of Americana here and there. Marks has been tightening her songcraft more with her last two albums. We can hear it here, again, especially with Kindness,” the title track, and “Is It Ever Too Soon To Say I Love You.” Marks continues her upward climb in quality music and she continues to make a great mark on the New England singer-songwriter scene with each release.
