Mavis Staples and
Jeff Tweedy proved to be such a good match on You Are Not Alone -- the album won a Grammy in the category of Best Americana Album -- that the two opted to do it again. Not tremendously different from that 2010 set,
One True Vine does involve a slightly different core lineup.
Tweedy's teenaged son Spencer drums instead of
Stephen Hodges, and
Tweedy, rather than Jeff Turmes, handles all the bass duties (among several other instruments). The album features another assortment of covers and new material. Its quieter, reserved, slightly darker mood is tipped off with a cover of
Low's "Holy Ghost."
Mavis' characteristically arresting voice, supported by Mark Greenberg's lightly touched Wurlitzer and a hushed backing vocalist trio of Tiffany "Makeda" Francisco,
Kelly Hogan, and
Donny Gerrard, sounds like it could have been recorded during a 2 a.m. service. Early
Funkadelic classic "Can You Get to That" -- the most inspired choice of the
Tweedy sessions -- is done straightforwardly with slightly goofy vocals from
Tweedy and
Gerrard.
Nick Lowe's contribution, "Far Celestial Shore," can be identified quickly, yet it's not out of place among
Tweedy's three originals or the two songs within the public domain. A new version of "I Like the Things About Me" (aka "I Like the Things About You") swaps twanging guitar for buzzing bass and has deeper resonance with
Mavis singing lead than the
Pops-fronted original heard on
The Staple Swingers. Throughout,
Tweedy and company give
Mavis even more room than on You Are Not Alone. While this isn't as exciting, the grip is instant, hard to break. ~ Andy Kellman