Sara Watkins Releases Debut

Sara Watkins self-titled debut album hit the shelves a few weeks back and is garnering favorable reviews. The album was produced by John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame and features quite the list of helping hands with the likes of Gillian Welch and Dave Rawling, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas; Tim O’Brien, Chris Eldridge, Ronnie McCoury and Rayna Gellert; and her Nickel Creek band mates Sean Watkins and Chris Thile.

The album's 14 tracks features 8 originals that offer enough range to keep any listener interested. Two great fiddle tunes, "Freiderick" and "Jefferson" feature Sara's incredible handiwork and will be welcome listens for her traditional followers. Sara sprinkles in new approaches to songs of old as she works up covers of Jimmie Rodgers' "Any Old Time", John Hartford's "Long Hot Summer Days", Jon Brion's "Same Mistakes", the Norman Blake tune "Lord Won't You Help Me", and Tom Waits "Pony".

Sara's page at Nonesuch Records has more.

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