The Portable Kate Campbell Reviews

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Through seven CDs, Campbell has been something of a musical Eudora Welty, chronicling Southern life with an eye for illuminating detail and a knack for creating memorable, sometimes wacky characters.  On these two releases, she revisits 30 tunes from her catalog, breathing new life into oughta-be-classics like Portable's elegiac "Moonpie Dreams" and Sing Me Out's wry "Jesus & Tomatoes," in which Campbell bribes the Almighty's lawyer with a BLT sandwich.  Take your pick - either collection serves as a tempting appetizer to a literate songsmith who's as satisfying as barbeque and sweet tea.
Portable: A
Sing Me Out: B+

- Bob Cannon