Let It Burn

This sweet-voiced veteran Australian songbird has been called Australia’s “Queen of Bluegrass,” and it’s hard to argue with that handle, based on her latest release. It’s a masterful mainstream bluegrass outing full of fine performances and memorable songs.

Cox, who topped the Billboard bluegrass charts with her seventh album back in 2020, kicks things off with “Let It Burn,” penned by Mike Richards and Jerry Salley. It’s a driving, torchy song about reviving a troubled romance from the ashes.

“Broke Down in Georgia” (Mickey Cates and Tony Ramey) is a sorrowful and poignant account of trying to leave behind a bad memory, only to end up with not just a broken heart but a broke-down car, to boot.

Stylistically, the tunes cover a predictable and satisfying range. There’s a powerful gospel outing called “God Never Made A Mountain (That We Can’t Learn to Climb),” penned by Bill Whyte, Andrea Pearson and Josh Shilling. Then there’s “Some Things Don’t Go Together,” a tongue in cheek send-off, and a chilling mountain murder ballad called “Sally Flatt” (Honi Deaton and Jeff Deaton).

Just as moving is an inspired cover of Dolly Parton’s “As Steady as the Rain” and a haunting song of longing called “(I’ll See You) In My Dreams,” which Cox cowrote with John Meador, who’s featured on harmonies. 

Then there’s the stunning “How Lucky I Am,” featuring Jimmy Fortune, who also cowrote the song. It’s a tribute to a dear loved one who is slipping away to the other side.

All in all, this confident, exquisitely executed collection seems destined to bolster Cox’s state-side presence even higher.