Staff Reviews

Anaïs Mitchell - Young Man in America

Review by Russell Warfield

Anais Mitchell has created a deeply affecting album which preserves everything that was so marvelous about her beloved Hadestown, and ultimately performs a very handsome job of keeping out of its vast shadow.»

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wilderland records release 'young man in america', the fourth album from vermont-based artist anas mitchell. for her new album, mitchell continues her work with producer / arranger todd sickafoose, who assembled some of nyc's most sought-after rock and experimental jazz players including guitarist adam levy, violinist jenny scheinman, and drummers andrew borger and kenny wollesen. chris thile of punch brothers appears on mandolin as well as alongside jefferson hamer and rachel ries in a harmonic chorus. michael chorney, who scored mitchell's last release 'hadestown' and produced her previous albums (2007's 'the brightness' and 2004's 'hymns of the exiled'), makes a guest appearance on guitar. 'young man' follows mitchell's critically beloved 2010 folk opera 'hadestown', a modern retelling of the orpheus myth set in a depression era america. the album, which features guest singers justin vernon (bon iver), ani difranco, and ben knox-miller (the low anthem), landed her on numerous 'best of 2010' lists including the guardian, the sunday times and the observer. 'young man' is not an opera, but it is an epic tale with multiple protagonists. as a songwriter mitchell takes on the voices of different characters, men as well as women.. the hero of the title track is 'a restless character on a feverish hunt for pleasure and success. alcohol, fame, money, sex - nothing satisfies him,' says mitchell. "he's desirous and very sad." this character, and the record as a whole, was inspired in part by the every-man-for-himself side of america that she glimpsed during our recent recession.
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