In the Pool

Since the 1997 debut of her first album, Water, released independently in the U.S. and on Taxim records in Europe, Adams has continually toured throughout the Northwest. She has worked as a backup singer, studio musician, and occasional bass player for a variety of bands; she's also toured with keyboardist Scott Fitzgerald and was a member of the band Standard Favors. She's known on the indie circuit as the "Montana Troubadour," but the music here is well grounded in folksy and bluesy acoustic/electric flavors, sharp storytelling, and vocals that on any given tune bring to mind Bonnie Raitt, Amanda Marshall, or Joni Mitchell. Adams sweeps the listener into her moods quite effectively, dabbling in romantic whimsy on "Most Precious Days," soft-hearted elegy on "The Garden Song," and crunchy front-porch blues on "Not Tonight" — a pointed rebuke to a controlling lover. She's also keen on history (the subtle, muted trumpet-enhanced "1846") and simple slice-of-life social commentary ("Maggie Tabasco," "Mozambique Is Burning"). Rod McGaha's trumpet also appears on the brooding "Leave the Light On," a piece that blends blues, folk, and jazz seamlessly. Adams obviously seeks to increase her presence on the folk-rock club scene, and an ambient, almost trip-hoppy twist on Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" (not as intense as Hendrix's version but here you can understand the lyrics better!) helps add a familiar touch.