| Trying to recapture the lightening in a bottle that was the Cowboy Junkies' The Trinity Sessions for its 20th anniversary would have been futile. Instead, the band reconvened in the same Toronto church where that now classic, nearly magical session occurred--this time with a camera, light crew, and famous friends--to play the songs again. Guest vocalists/musicians Natalie Merchant, Ryan Adams, Vic Chesnutt, and longtime associate Jeff Bird (who contributed to the original) bring their spin to various tunes, resulting in a CD/DVD package that's arguably just as emotionally powerful, if maybe not as arresting, as the 1988 release. Twenty years of honing this material adds depth and maturity to the arrangements that, while fundamentally similar, have ripened with time and age. They have also lengthened. "Sweet Jane" stretches from about four minutes to almost nine, and "Working on a Building" expands to over six. The extra time provides a wider palette for the band to paint its melancholy yet intense soundscape. Merchant takes sole lead vocals and plays piano on a chillingly stripped down "To Love is to Bury," Chesnutt gives "Postcard Blues" a dose of his gritty soul, and Adams brings twang to the sparse "200 More Miles." The accompanying DVD is beautifully lit and shot, adding visual resonance to the music. A 45-minute documentary fills in historical blanks with a roundtable band interview, rehearsal footage, and other fly-on-the-wall video captured during the three-day project. It's a nearly perfect tribute to a nearly perfect album that quietly kick-started the Cowboy Junkies' impressive career. --Hal Horowitz |
