listening room | Karla Ruth - Hanging By A Thread (2002)
by: Matthew Hundley
This is not a new CD. But this is a CD by a local singer/songwriter that deserves some recognition.
Karla Ruth has been knocking around the local folk and acoustic music circuit for a few years now. You’ll catch her name in the paper playing various coffee house concerts and appearing during various other events.
Recently I had a chance to sample Karla’s 2001 release, “Hanging By A Thread.” The female folk genre is not one typically in rotation on my local airwaves, so I was not overly enthused about the listen. As usually happens when our expectations are low, I was pleasantly surprised with the caliber of music on this disc.
“If I Had Met You On Monday,” opens the disc with a Dire Straights-ey gait. This track got me to open the printed insert to discover who was joining Karla on this disc. The line-up included Jon Schwabe (bass), Jim Dreier (drums) , Denny Gibbs (B3), Ed East (congas) and numerous others. The CD was produced at Catamount by Tom Tatman and Mastered by Jon Chamberlain. This feel-good number is not typical of the rest of this disc, but it is catchy and is a great launch into the CD.
“Afraid of Being Happy” showcases Karla’s 12-string playing and her storytelling abilities. “Waiting For The Weekend” is more a somber, straight-ahead folk tune.
“Social Chameleon,” brings the full band back for a bi-curious island romp. “If I Didn’t Love You So Much,” jumps back into the personal arena with the story of a complicated love affair. “Time To Go Looking,” is a tune that should wear well with the Buffet crowd – blend up a Margarita and turn up the stereo.
The title song comes next, “Hanging By A Thread” The Stray Cats-esque shuffle, the Knopfler-esque riffs and the Tom Waits piano takes us into smoky bar mode for the cocktail, crooning Karla.
“Her Next True Love,” takes us back into the folk circuit for a bit of strumming and storytelling. “Leave it for the Next Guy,” is one of those tap-your-lap tunes. Listen and you’ll see.
“Fooling Yourself,” slows things down to a 70’s folk, rock, B3 groove. The lead guitar doesn’t work that well with this one and song leans a bit to the sappy side in light of the rest of the song selections.
“Julio’s Golf Song,” closes the CD with a sing-a-long that would work well on the beach, at the bar or in the book store. I’d love to see a video with the lyrics prompted by a bouncing golf ball.
Karla’s CD offering did not turn me into a folk fan, but it did make me appreciate Karla’s talents as a musician and as a songwriter. Lyrically, the songs don’t strike a chord in my life, but I respect these as very personal vignettes that Karla shares of from own experiences in and out of love and relationships. I’d like to hear more of the dynamic folk singer who appears here and there on this CD.
Posted: July 09, 2003  
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