Track Listing

1. Old Virginia Block
2. Keep Your Silver Shined
3. 1340 Chesapeake St.
4. Let's Go Out
5. Well-Dressed Son to His Sweetheart
6. Eloise & Alex
7. Does the Day Feel Long?
8. Dress Sharp, Play Well, Be Modest
9. Stop by Anytime
10. Weeping Willow

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #951 in Music
• Published on: 2007
• Released on: 2007-06-21
• Number of discs: 1

The Observer, March 25th 2007
"There's a refreshing sweetness about the work of this 24-year-old American songwriter, there in her mellifluous vocals and in poetic, freewheeling lyrics... Sproule's songs ooze the atmosphere of balmy Virginia days and her sunny outlook is infectious"

Album Description
"There's a refreshing sweetness about the work of this 24-year-old American songwriter, there in her mellifluous vocals and in poetic, freewheeling lyrics... Sproule's songs ooze the atmosphere of balmy Virginia days and her sunny outlook is infectious". - The Observer

This is the first UK release for Virginian female singer-songwriter Devon Sproule.

'Keep Your Silver Shined' highlights Devon's talent for combining Appalachian country with distinctive folk and jazz influences. With her trademark vintage dresses and 50-year-old Gibson guitar, this is old-time Americana bluegrass/country with a jazzy swing feel - reminiscent of Jolie Holland or The Be Good Tanyas.

From the front porch thump of 'Old Virginia Block', to the high lonesome traditional 'The Weeping Willow' featuring fellow-Virginian Mary Chapin Carpenter, Devon's songs are candid and poetic, described by This American Life as "ringing with a sweet heartbreaking majesty, these songs are beautiful, timeless and transporting".

Her previous album was included in Rolling Stone's Critics Top Albums of 2003 ("Sproule's vocal and lyrical beauty is unmatched"), and she has been described as "worthy of holding her own on a shelf with anyone from Joni Mitchell to Gillian Welch".

A timeless gem.

Customer Reviews

Buy it!
I saw Devon Sproule at the Tolpuddle Festival recently - she's a great musician and I loved her set. Afterwards I bought this CD which she was kind enough to sign and to chat for a few minutes. A very normal, friendly lady. I have played this CD almost non-stop since then. It's very evocative of that idealized rural South that I hope still exists. It is totally charming. Devon is a great songwriter but, for me, the songs were not immediately obvious. The lyrics and music are maybe a little eccentric. But all good things take a little effort and, if you persist, I think you will fall in love with this album and the vision of Virginia it conjures up in your mind.

Make sure you like it first....
If you go by all the reviews here you'd think Devon Sproule is a huge talent and the next big thing. I went to see her in the acoustic tent at Glastonbury and wasn't impressed at all. She has a kind of geeky charm - but after a few songs even that wears off. So, if you part with your hard earned cash to buy this CD expecting something really special, don't say you weren't warned.

Brilliant Fourth(!)Album From Devon Sproule.
I saw this artist on "Later" earlier this year and despite knowing nothing about her at all prior to this I was completely captivated by her performance and the songs she played. I ordered this CD the next day. Sometimes albums bought under such circumstances can be a disappointment but this certainly wasn't one of them, if anything it has surpassed my expectations.

Musically there are touches of Appalachian folk, jazz and blues but all done in a style that is very much her own. If I had to make comparisons I might say it reminds me of the first two Kate and Anna McGarrigle albums(but with sweeter melodies)with a touch of The Roches thrown in. The most interesting thing is that it doesn't fit easily into any particular genre or style but, in this case it may be an advantage, not a drawback, as I really do think this could appeal to almost any music fan with an open mind.

Lyrically the songs are richly descriptive and as evocative of time and place as you could ask for, all delivered in a relaxed, confident style that can range from sweetly sung, to almost conversational, in tone. If I had to name a favourite song it might be 'Stop by Anytime' or the title track or 'Let's Go Out' or... half a dozen others.

I have since discovered that she has been recording for some time and released her first album("Devon")when she was 16! I've got her previous album("Upstate Songs)and, excellent though it is, I think this is significantly better.

I don't know of anyone around doing anything that's quite like this and certainly no one doing it better. Highly recommended.