WHAT SOME CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT CAROLINE COTTER'S "HOME ON THE RIVER":
"a treasure trove of nine personal yet universal love songs...Clever, cryptic '1 4 3' reminds us that true love is ageless, timeless, ever-present and, like the road, goes on forever. The magical, mystical, deliciously dark 'Eternal Light' might be about transition, metamorphosis, rapture, birth, death, Heaven, Hell, or all or none of the above. You decide...Cotter’s closing a capella cover of Woody and Arlo Guthrie’s 'My Peace' is simply gorgeous...No single song stands out because each is singularly outstanding...Like Dorothy and other beautiful dreamers before her, Caroline has learned for herself that journeys within—or at least closer to home, where the heart is—can be most revealing and rewarding. And that there’s no place like home on the river!" (Dennis McDoNoUgh!/Elmore Magazine)
""The first notes of the first track, 'Peace of Mind', had me convinced Cotter is something special. She has an honesty about her music which, to me, is quite disarming. The songs are smooth, laid out simply and forthright, and are downright refreshing. The lyrics, I at first thought, but subsequent listens I found it was the combination of music and lyrics. I eventually found myself returning to an old favorite by Adrienne Young titled The Art of Virtue, pulling it out for a quick listen, and there it was--- the honesty. No musical legerdemain, no gimmicks, no attempt to follow a trend. Just music the way it used to be made--- organically...There are roots all over the album and yet they do not interfere with the pure enjoyment of listening. These songs stand on their own without the bells and whistles which could easily have gotten in the way--- the obvious inclusion of an instrument here or the attempt at over-the-top vocals. Whenever anything is obvious, I have found, it just doesn't sound right. To my ears, anyway. I can hear Cotter now, singing any one of the songs on the new album, raising spirits with one song, calming them with another. Sweet and smooth. Just like Home On the River. I recommend checking out Cotter's website for more information, especially regarding her touring schedule. I just have this feeling, you know?" (Frank Gutch, Jr./No Depression)
""Cotter's voice is an amazing instrument -- the Rhode Island native has a smooth, tremulous soprano that's a perfect fit for her folksy, acoustic Americana. But it's what she does with it that's the real wonder: From evocative whispers and half-sung asides to breathy yelps and dreamy almost-yodels, she imbues her material with an amazing amount of real-time sincerity and emotional heft. " (Peter Chianca/Gatehouse Newspapers)
"Ultimately, Home on the River is borne by its own quiet grace and calm, a record which all but begs the listener to lean in closely to fully soak up the beguiling beauty that's inherent in every note...Today's folk scene has a new champion, one who encapsulates the sweetness, serenity and sophistication that has always made the genre so affecting in such a timeless manner. In that regard, Home on the River is an absolutely essential record." (Lee Zimmerman/Country Standard Time)
"Her well-constructed songs call to mind the early work of Mary Chapin Carpenter…" (Tom Wilk/Icon Magazine)
"Caroline Cotter Brings 'Peace of Mind' to Music Lovers with New Video" video premiere:
https://www.popmatters.com/caroline-cotter-peace-of-mind-2532047681.html (Michael Bialas/Popmatters)
"[Home on The River] is a finely crafted, pristine collection of songs. Cotter has this sugary, pixie-like voice that occasionally finds the softer edges of a Dolly Parton-style vibrato, the sharpness of the icon’s Dixieland bombast replaced by a cool layer of New England snow (Cotter is from Rhode Island and lives here in Maine). Her voice is that of what I feel like a magical forest sprite would sound like if, you know, they existed and could sing real nice. She is also a solid songwriter, if somewhat subdued given the wanderlust that characterizes the album. Her fingerpicking style is clean and bright, and they produced the hell out of this thing — one woman, her guitar, and just enough supporting instrumentation to make the artist herself pop. It’s the way you’re supposed to mix a record for a one-woman show, they nailed it." (The Portland Phoenix)
"A sure sense of self and purpose imbues this New England singer-songwriter’s sophomore album, whose vivid natural imagery was inspired by recent travels. More celebratory than searching, Cotter notes how home roots deepen across distance. There’s a throwback appeal to her pure tones, acoustic simplicity and simple, idealistic affirmations, yet 'Peace of Mind,' 'Found' and Woody and Arlo Guthrie’s a cappella 'My Peace' feel timely." (Bliss Bowen/Pasadena Weekly)
"Bridging the English folk music tradition with a contemporary Americana perspective, Caroline Cotter’s album, Home On the River, is a delightful surprise. Blessed with a beautiful ‘honeyed soprano’ voice, Cotter is a world traveller finding inspiration for her songs close to home...Cotter has crafted an engaging, compact set of songs searching for truth and comfort...Cotter’s perspective is informed. She understands what is important to her, and is confident in her vision. There is an appealing assuredness in her writing and singing. Listen to Caroline Cotter’s Home On the River and let its songs take you away to a better place. (Donald Teplyske/Fervor Coulee)
"Cotter has a sweet voice and all of the songs here are set to subdued and mostly acoustic arrangements that really highlight her vocal talents, like on the soft country of '1 4 3' where her voice is appropriately tender for a song that has a title that is an alternative way of saying 'I love you.' One of the album's most striking cuts is 'Eternal Light,' a slightly foreboding folk tune, and her best vocal turn may be on the haunting 'My Washroom'." (Kevin Wierzbicki/Root 66)
"Americana singer/songwriter Caroline Cotter’s captivating soprano, award-winning songwriting and travel-inspired songs takes listeners all over the world...Cotter's blend of introspection and an outward, open view of the world on the album's nine original tunes -- plus an a capella cover of Woodie Guthrie's 'My Peace' -- offer a complex journey for the listener..." (Jocelyn Murphy/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
"This flawless-sounding musician wrote 9 or the 10 songs…Caroline Cotter can write beautiful songs as evidenced by the album title track…beautiful, sincere and sensitive…" (Rootstime)
"'Home On The River' emphasizes both the freedom of wanderlust and and a sense of place…" (Tara Joan/The Daily Country)
"Something about Caroline Cotter’s voice is capable of easing tensions and making us feel that perhaps things aren’t as horrible as they seem to be...This is a beautiful album…"(Michael Doherty/Michael's Music Log)
"So just suppose for a moment Alanis Morrissette was an Americana/folkie artist...Would you listen? You would if she was Cotter...Well done." (Chris Spector/Midwest Record Review)
