For All the World to See

Bluegrass devotees and fans of A Prairie Home Companion have become familiar with Becky Schlegel's music over the years. This 2009 release invokes the vast skies and open landscapes of the singer’s native Great Plains with a haunting grace. As producer, Schlegel keeps the tracks starkly simple, letting individual musicians (including dobro player Randy Kohrs and steel guitarist Kenny Wilson) shine through the empty spaces. Her winsome, shivery vocal style (reminiscent of early Emmylou Harris or Dolly Parton) conveys inner strength behind a shy exterior. “Hills of South Dakota,” “Jenny,” and “Bound for Tennessee” are exquisite in their balance of sadness and hope. “99%” and “Best Part of the Day” combine downbeat lyrics with rousing, string-driven choruses. Schlegel’s songs seem palpably real — whether she’s depicting a bittersweet reunion in “Sound of Your Voice” or warding off ghosts in “Lonely,” there’s no distance between her and the music. Her delicate, quietly devastating singing on the heartbreak ballad “Why Maybe” especially deserves to be heard.