Rating: NNN
There’s a much more wholesome MacIsaac on the acoustic pop scene: Lisa, sister of that incorrigible Maritime fiddler Ashley. She co-fronts Madison Violet (formerly Mad Violet), a Toronto-based softie lit-folk group with Brenley MacEachern. No Fool For Trying, their third album, could raise Lisa’s profile to the status her sibling once enjoyed.
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It’s full of well-crafted, twangy tales of lonesome nights. MacIsaac and MacEachern harmonize like dialed-down Dixie Chicks but with more East Coast flavour. Subtle, effective production by Les Cooper keeps the vocals in the forefront, leaving the background plucking (guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin) to smoothly carry the tunes.
Top track: Small Of My Heart
Madison Violet play Hugh’s Room tonight (Thursday, June 18) as part of NXNE.
