Some of you may remember Cindy Lee Berryhill’s cult hit, “Damn, I Wish I Was a Man.” That song poked fun at societal perceptions of sexual inequality (and Jack Nicholson’s beer belly). One of her new songs, “When Did Jesus Become a Republican?” is no less provocative, and while you’re not likely to hear it often on the radio, it is climbing the charts on Neil Young’s Living with War website (www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/lwwvideospage.html).
Obviously, some of Berryhill’s “twisted roots music” (her phrase) falls into the same satirical camp as Randy Newman’s “Political Science” or Country Joe MacDonald’s “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag,” but the songs on her 2007 CD, Beloved Stranger, span a wide mix of subject matter and emotion. Particularly outstanding is the heartbreaking title cut, a ballad sung from the point of view of a woman caring for her husband, who returns from military service brain-damaged and unable to even recognize her. Actually, taken in context, this song also sends a message, since Cindy Lee dedicates the CD to those who have lost someone dear to them, and to those coping with the challenges of traumatic brain injury.
All the tunes and arrangements on Beloved Stranger show a strong imagination at work, and the band performances throb with acoustic rawness. As a singer, Cindy Lee is pretty darn original — definitely not just another pretty voice. Her expressive vocals slide in and out of falsetto at a moment’s notice, and are frequently backed with sweet harmonies that show off her pop influences. Her hypnotic rapping on “Where Are They Now” is simply great.
She chooses some cool, oddball instrumentation: Check out the timpani drums bouncing along on the root notes in the country-flavored “Bars, Booze and Boysclubs” and providing a touch of drama in the uplifting pop opener, “Unexpected Packages.” (The timpani and vibes throughout the album are played by occasional Wood&Steel contributing writer/photographer, Randy Hoffman, whose rock-solid drumming has anchored Cindy’s studio and live bands for years.)
I especially like the thrashy, tongue-in-cheek anthem, “Make Way for the Handicapped,” where Cindy’s band pounds away like an acoustic version of the B-52s. The vocal harmonies work to further that effect, as well.
Several of Cindy Lee’s notable pals help out: Peter Case sings the low octave harmony on “Beloved Stranger;” John Doe sings on the Guthrie-esque “Forty Cent Raise” and “Where Are They Now.” Longtime Patti Smith collaborator/guitarist Lenny Kaye, and Dave Alvin, of the LA-based Blasters and his own successful solo career, both contribute guitar tracks, as well.
On the back cover of Beloved Stranger, Cindy, or someone from her record company, states, “Unauthorized copying is against federal law but go ahead.” It’s in keeping with the lyrics of her amusing and sincere closing tune, “Plenty Enough,” an ode to appreciating the simple things in life. But Beloved Stranger is full of enjoyable and worthwhile music, created by an artist who deserves to be paid for her work, so if the review piques your interest, lay some money down and buy this CD!
— Andy Robinson
