Carolyn Wonderland

Peace Meal (Bismeaux)

If the first track off Carolyn Wonderland’s Peace Meal sounds unexpectedly countrified, listen up: Wonderland just tapped into rare Janis Joplin track “What Good Can Drinkin’ Do” and stamped it as her own. That may be the only concession outside her traditionally volatile blues, and Peace Meal serves it on a platter steaming with soulful strut. Singer-guitarist-songwriter – sometimes those first two in reverse – the ex-Houstonian reined in not only Larry Campbell (Dylan, the Gourds) but also Ray Benson and Mike Nesmith for various producer duties, three cooks that didn’t spoil the righteous flavor of her originals (“Shine On,” “St. Marks,” “Victory of Flying”) or delicious covers of Muddy Waters (“Two Trains”), Elmore James (“Dust My Broom”), and Robert Hunter (“Golden Stairs”). And if Peace Meal reflects a degree of life contentment previously unheard of from Carolyn Wonderland, the cover photo sparkle on the third finger of her left hand matches the one now in her eyes. (CD release: Antone’s, Saturday, Oct. 1.)

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This article appears in September 30 • 2011.

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