Jefferson's Tree of Libertyby Anonymous

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September 06, 2008: Tree of Liberty is everything you've ever loved about Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship - Paul Kantner's ringing 12 string Rickenbacker, the soaring harmonies, this collecton is a call to arms, to dream, to go to the edge and beyond. Jeffersonians past, present, future, are present and accounted for. It's an album of rebels and revolutionary anthems - across the times, across the oceans, across the continents - 19 soul rousing and blood pumping songs. Who would've thought the lustiest and loudest collection of songs would be made by (mostly) wooden instruments? Who would've thought the most passionate album to be released this year would come from Jefferson Starship? Lest you think this is a dreary collection of political polemic dirges, think again. This is an album to listen to with people, and sing along with. It kicks off with a rousing nod to &quot Volunteers&quot before it settles into the Weaver's classic &quot Wasn't That A Time.&quot Cathy Richardson has the vocal chops and power of Grace Slick, but with a gritty undertone. David Laflamme's violin soars above the acoustic guitars and martial drums. Another Weavers classic, &quot Santy Anno,&quot a lusty sea shanty, makes you feel the waves rolling with the banjo and squeezebox. David Frieberg takes a solo turn on Dino Valenti's poignant &quot Cowboy OnThe Run,&quot with beautiful pedal steel guitar by Barry Sless and piano by Chris Smith. It's pure Nashville. It would take all day to hit all the highlights. But I would be remiss not giving a shout out to longtime Jefferson collaborators Darby Gould on Richard Thompson's &quot Genesis Hall,&quot Diana Mangano's full throttle support on &quot The Royal Canal&quot - beloved to Pogues' fans as &quot The Auld Triangle.&quot As befitting a guy born on St. Patrick's Day, Paul O'Kantner gruffly sings the prison lament of Irish Rebel Brendan Behan, with a dirty ole man &quot heh heh&quot during the part about the women's prison, followed with a storming &quot Rising Of The Moon&quot . The mash up of Bob Marley's &quot Redemption Song&quot with John Lennon's &quot Imagine&quot somehow works, heartfeltly delivered by Cathy Richardson. If there is one song to pick as a &quot single&quot - if things like that are still done - it's this one. Marty Balin contributes &quot Maybe For You&quot if anybody needed to reminded of his talent with a love song. I miss his sweet tenor. It's too bad he's not singing on the rest of the songs. Jack Casady makes an appearance on bass with his Armageddon-announcing rumble. Darby Gould's acapella version of Sandy Denny's &quot Quiet Joys of Brotherhood&quot sent shivers down my spine. Only one thing could top it, and that's Grace Slick singing &quot Surprise...&quot Some of Grace's best work was singing backup and harmony, as she is here. Too bad my CD says &quot Untitled&quot and there's no additional information as there are for the other songs. Surprise, indeed. This is one of the best releases of the year. If you love great songs, passionate singing and playing, need reminding that all evil needs to triumph is for good people to do nothing, then Tree of Liberty is for you. Lay your money down.