Laurie McClain: Press/Reviews

"Laurie's voice feels like my favorite moisturizer. It sinks in quickly and starts to heal. Her songs go deep and they stay with you."

"Whether performing solo or with the excellent band she has put together, she turns each venue into her own living room, and each listener into a new friend with her disarming humor and passionate performance. Laurie's songs explore the themes of identity, growth, friendship and love in a way that always honors the fundamental mysteries of the human journey. In this Mecca of songwriters, she is a gem of uniqueness and authenticity."

"What good folk music should be: earthy, truthful, heartfelt . . . Laurie shows listeners her naturally sweetened voice and delightful sense of humor . . . Some songs lament the world's hassles and heartaches; others long for a kinder world where everyone is happy, healthy and free . . . idealistic without becoming preachy."

"Her music cannot be thrown into one single category. It's predominately folk, but under the influence of alternative, country and a touch of blues. Her songs seem to sing themselves with uplifting energy and positive vibrations."

"Kate Wolf's classic California folk music is lovingly and soulfully praised and preserved in this fabulous tribute record. It's a fantastic job, and we think it will itself become a folk classic, it's that good."

"The music of the late California writer Kate Wolf has been interpreted by many musicians. This new release from singer/songwriter Laurie McClain may just turn out to be one of the best and most enduring efforts. McClain's gentle and not-too-polished voice and thoughtful style allow her to put her own stamp on Wolf's material while showing respect and affection for the writer's words and intent. There's not a throwaway cut on the disc; each is clearly a work of love and respect."

"Laurie McClain cannot be praised too highly for bringing us this CD. The songs here are sung as only a person with true feeling for the lyrics and music can. With few tracks under four minutes long, they still hold the ear, mind and heart. It's only January but I truly feel that I have found my album of 2004. Her beautiful voice brings the inspired lyrics and music to life and gives us a gift in this century."

"A thoroughly professional recording, warm, rich... authentic, yet unique enough to be her own... Fresh instrumentation and arrangements work to make The Trumpet Vine a valid tribute to Kate's music that should be welcomed."

"Laurie's voice has a raw, genuine classic folk resonance that pulls you into every song... She has interpreted Kate Wolf beautifully."

...whilst McClain has done justice to Wolf's songs she also clearly sings them with a genuine heartfelt connection to the lyrics, combining clarity, compassion and a tenderness in her delivery. This is one CD that is not going to move far away from my deck in the foreseeable future, and it's certainly inspired me to make the effort to discover more of Wolf's music."

"It's clear that Laurie McClain takes the meanings and nuances of Kate Wolf's words and melodies into her own soul, and presents them here for all of us to appreciate. She is a beautiful singer."

"An incredible performance with Kate's songs. Kate was a dear friend of ours and did several radio programs for us over the years. Sometimes it is very jolting to hear someone do another songwriter's songs. You first reaction is to compare the performer to the songwriter... We must be honest with you, we were moved in a way that was not expected. Thank you so much for a wonderful cd."

Hi Laurie,
About two years ago, while browsing through the "compilation" rack of my favorite CD store, I came across "Hope: Mothers Helping Mothers." Even though I'm a dad, I picked it up. Andrew was three at the time. Your song caught me, and I began to make it a point to enjoy Andrew every moment I could.

When he had just turned four, his mother and I separated, and my daily contact turned into weekends only. I often turned to your song to help conjure up my baby. When he and his older brother Anthony came to visit on weekends, we almost always played Only Four, sometimes three or four or five times in a row. On his fifth birthday, Andrew belted out a hearty sing-along rendition in front of friends and family.

Now that he's five, we don't listen quite as often. He does ask if there's a song about being five. I haven't found one. He says, "That's okay, we can just change the words."

So, the point of all this is that I just want to thank you for this wonderful gift, and the joy it has brought us.

Gratefully yours,
Rob H