Seasons On Earth

For anyone lamenting the dearth of unvarnished singer/songwriter albums, look no further than the magical works of Espers’ Meg Baird. With a simplicity and beauty that recalls the works of Sandy Denny, early Judy Collins, and other ‘60s folkies, Baird’s music resonates with the same intimacy, the same emphasis on acoustic instruments (with a few electrics thrown in), and her bewitching voice. Her second album flips the strategy. Where her debut, Dear Companion, was primarily covers with a few originals, Seasons on Earth features eight originals, making the case for Baird’s developing songwriting abilities. The two covers are obscure and worthwhile: “Friends” from the duo Mark-Almond and “The Beatles and the Stones” from the British pop group House of Love both sound like Baird originals, such is her interpretive ability. A number of players join here, but it’s Baird’s voice that sits front and center. “Stars Climb up the Vine” is a seven-minute tour de force. “The Land Turned Over” is spare and mesmerizing. “Stream” evokes country-rock. “Song for Next Summer” ends things on a wistful note.