Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus

Ray of Hope (Berkalin)

There’s an underlying sweetness in the acoustic music of Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus, enough to evoke smiles of indulgence, but not to dismiss Ray of Hope as featherweight folk. Polishing the various guises of coupling (“Wrong End of Love”), most honestly and authentically in the utterly charming “(Ballad of the) Oxbow Inn,” this is a catchy, confessional timeline of Patton and Brokus’ courtship. Produced by Ron Flynt, Ray of Hope doesn’t sugarcoat and doesn’t wander, qualities often underrated in songwriting and performance.

**.5

This article appears in February 11 • 2011.

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