Love Is Best of All

The title cut of Kathleen Williamson's Love Is Best of All lays her philosophy out in the plainest of terms. Compared to the universe, flashy airplanes, and high times, love is still the best thing the human race has going for it. She delivers this message sung to the tune of a sitar and congas, reminding listeners of George Harrison, circa 1967. Williamson abandons this approach on the second cut, "Secret Song," a mellow piece of bossa nova, and then delves into infectious funk for "Big Deal Small Talk." By the third cut, then, it's pretty evident that Williamson easily embraces a broad range of styles, assuring that the listeners' ears will always be perked up. The arrangements, surely a handful with so many different approaches, are smart, and everybody involved on the project plays well. The only weak spot is Williamson's vocals. Although she gives it her all on songs like "The Stars Draw Near," there's a flat quality that falls short of the material. Her ability as a writer and the overall intelligence of pieces like "I Can See a New View" will convince many to keep listening nonetheless. Love Is Best of All will also appeal to singer/songwriter aficionados bored by the typical product. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi