The Burns Sisters may be from Ithaca, New York, but they come across as an act steeped in music south of the Mason-Dixon line on their third Philo Records album, Close To Home.
Musically, the Burns Sisters nod respectfully toward a variety of antecedents. At times they remind of Emmylou Harris, Mary Chapin Carpenter or even Dolly Parton, at others of acoustic Heart or the Indigo Girls. Their harmonies can swell towards a wail, or swoop like a girl group. Their backing band and Gary Tallent's Nashville production are poised and supportive, but never attempt to distract from the sisters' voices. The back cover has a gushing affidavit from new-folk patroness Christine Lavin. I wouldn't call any of this innovative, but it isn't supposed to be. An album of cherished friends and memories should be framed in familiar timbers.
Beginning with the opening track, they sound like rootsy country-rockers with the bluesy feel of Wynonna. Before long, they have settled into the sort of country-folk-rock hybrid characteristic of Mary Chapin Carpenter, though they add tinges of other styles, usually by introducing a particular instrument, such as the tin whistle that gives a Celtic tone to their take on Van Morrison’s »Irish Heartbeat« and the fiddle that emphasizes the Cajun flavor of »Without Love.« The songs, mostly originals by either Marie or Annie Burns, tend to be statements of romantic devotion, often in the face of social pressure or the love object's own resistance. The topics and musical styles on this disc may vary, but “Close To Home” has a wonderful flow, it is an exciting journey through the unique universe of the Burns Sisters, an album that almost reaches perfection in terms of musicianship, songwriting and harmony vocals.