Follow Me Down
Follow Me Down finds Sarah Jarosz looking beyond her bluegrass foundation. Banjo, mandolin and guitar remain important, but the songs can just as easily move towards folk, pop or a jazz-like instrumental. That curiosity makes the record interesting. Jarosz sounds confident enough to try different possibilities without seeking the same result every time.
Run Away opens darkly and gains a polished, contemporary character through voice and guitar. It immediately establishes the album's ambition. The words feel more general than the stronger material that follows, though. The conviction lies more in the sound than the writing here.
On My Muse, those elements come together better. Mandolin begins tensely and alone before strings bring warmth to the choruses. The spare setting keeps melody and voice close. It becomes one of the album's most convincing songs.
Annabelle Lee connects a text by Edgar Allan Poe with a melody rooted in an older Appalachian style. Rhythmic banjo and mandolin give the song movement without displacing its story. Floating In The Balance has a similar drive, while Old Smitty reveals the more instrumental, jazz-like side.
The covers fit this broad outlook. Bob Dylan's Ring Them Bells feels natural in these surroundings. Radiohead's The Tourist, featuring the Punch Brothers, is a bolder choice. The acoustic arrangement has fine details, although the slow vocal makes it less mobile than the strongest moments around it.
Not every step forward lands equally well. The variety nevertheless remains appealing, and Jarosz carries her material with a clear, strong voice. Follow Me Down has enough character to offer more than a demonstration of talent. It is especially convincing when interaction and melody come together.
