Whistle Down The Wind (LP)
Joan Baez
Amoeba Review
09/07/2020
Joan Baez's quietly revolutionary folk music has made her a legend for a reason. Her latest, Whistle Down the Wind, continues that tradition and proves to be quite timely in its call to work toward a brighter future, even in moments of despair. Baez's talent is matched by that of her skilled collaborators; Mary Chapin Carpenter; Tom Waits, Josh Ritter, Kathleen Brennan, Eliza Gilkyson, Anohni, Joe Henry, and Zoe Mulford all pen tunes or provide inspiration for truly moving cover songs. "The President Sang Amazing Grace" (Mulford) is particularly stirring while Baez's cover of Wait's "Last Leaf" delivers a message of endurance and hope -- but really, each song here is a work of art in its own right.