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'Everything Good,' indeed: Springsteen  violinist Soozie Tyrell releases new CD 

 Published in the Asbury Park Press 4/03/03 

 By KELLY-JANE COTTER

 Music Writer



Soozie Tyrell has made a career of backing A-list musicians such as Sheryl Crow,

Shawn Colvin and, most noticeably, Bruce Springsteen.



But with one spin of her debut album,

"White Lines" on Treasure Records,  you might wonder why she's wasted so much time with

those jokers when she can  easily handle center stage all by herself. 



The influence of all three -- Colvin, Crow and Springsteen -- can be found in  Tyrell's solo work,

a hearty and mature collection of roots rock and ballads.  



Tyrell is first and foremost a violinist, and she uses her instrument to add warmth  and texture

to rock and folk songs. She's also a singer and a storyteller, with  a knack for using memories

for something other than nostalgia. 



The autobiographical title track, for example, takes the listener on a journey  through Tyrell's life:

Her dad's career in the military took the family from town  to town; her parents divorced after her

dad retired, and Soozie herself took to  the road to pursue a career in music.



"White Lines" is full of Tyrell's love of the road, but also her wariness  of a nomadic life. The

breezy melody belies the undercurrent of self-doubt and  second thoughts found in the chorus:

"I'm runnin' out of time, I'm runnin'  out of lines, I'm runnin', I'm runnin' out of road."



Springsteen plays lead guitar on the track.



He and Patti Scialfa also sing back-up on the equally great "Ste. Genevieve,"  a mournful song

about a town flooded by the Mississippi River. Scialfa's voice  can be heard loud and clear,

complementing Tyrell's as it does when they sing  together in the E Street Band. Springteen's

contribution is more subtle -- a familiar  hum that runs through the chorus.

 

Tyrell and Scialfa team up again on "Out On Bleecker St.," joined by  Lisa Lowell.

The song reminisces about how the three friends used to hang out  in the Village and perform

together. It's kind of goofy, but as endearing as a  fairy tale.



The flip side of that youthful exuberance can be found on "Everything Good,"  in which Tyrell

takes a good, hard look at what life takes out of you as the years  go by. There's still a lot of

good, she concludes, but it comes at a price.



Soozie Tyrell is scheduled to perform May 2 at The Stone Pony, 913 Ocean Ave.,  Asbury Park.

For info, call (732) 502-0600 or go to www.stoneponyonline.com.

 

She can also be found on stages worldwide, as part of Springsteen's "The  Rising" tour,

which returns to New Jersey in July and August for a long engagement at Giants Stadium.