Hold The Spark (Gate) (Ecov) [CD], Florence Dore, CD

Nashville-born, Chapel Hill-based Florence Dore has just finished making her third record, Hold the Spark. It's a gem. With a narrative bent that ranks her with the likes of James McMurtry and an ear for melody that has earned her comparisons with Lucinda Williams, Florence delivers rich storytelling with plenty of wit. Served up in rich, emotional vocals and backed by a killer rock band, the songs on Hold the Spark span the spectrum"ranging from a tear-jerking tender love song about Florence's daughter to a hilarious Stooges-like rocker about the stupidity of academic meetings; and from a sweet, wise reflection about a years-long missed romantic opportunity to an Aimee Mann-like reflection on mortality. Hold the Spark, undoubtedly Florence's strongest offering yet, features an all-star cast of Americana greats, including Jason Wilber (John Prine) and Chris Masterson (The Wallflowers, Steve Earle & the Dukes) on guitars and husband Will Rigby (Steve Earle & the Dukes, The dB's) on drums. Don Dixon (R.E.M.) produced Hold the Spark; Paul Voran (Bon Iver, Nathaniel Rateliff, Waxahachie) mixed. Hold the Spark features cameos by the great Mitch Easter (Let's Active), Libby Rodenbough (Mipso), Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five), Kelly Pratt (Father John Misty), and Eleanor Whitmore (Elvis Costello, Steve Earle & the Dukes).