AMG Review of Sounds of Wood and Steel, Vol. 3

Thom Jurek
All Music Guide

The third volume of Sounds of Wood & Steel makes it a little less plain that these collections are as much a tribute to Taylor guitars as they are to acoustic music. But if excellent acoustic music played by stellar musicians is your thing, the advertising angle isn't gonna bother you a bit. This set hosts a few less superstars and a few more stunning guitar pickers. Over 17 tracks both material and performances are solid, a solo track by Susanna Hoffs ("I Will Take Care of You") and Jars of Clay's "Jesse's Song." But the bulk is right down the pipe -- Phil Keaggy, Robben Ford, Kathy Mattea with Bill Cooley, Suzy Bogguss, Verlon Thompson, Chris Proctor, Billy Sheehan, Paul Rodgers, and the inimitable "Litho Blitho" by Dave Matthews. Vocals are given, if not equal weight here, at least some, and every effort was made to make these performances as spontaneous as possible. This is a worthy volume in the series, if a little more obscure.