The Indigo Girls’ ninth studio album, All That We Let In, resonates with an unabashed hopefulness that reflects the continued political and personal maturation of Emily Sailers and Amy Ray. Featuring six songs by Sailers and five by Ray, this solid collection gives listeners what they’ve come to expect: smooth harmonies, excellent musicianship and inspirational lyrics.
Fans of the Georgia-based duo will find this recording strikingly similar in tone to 2002’s Become You—both thematically and musically. Many of the musicians who appeared on Become You—most notably keyboardist Carol Issacs and guitarist Claire Kenny— show up again under the direction of British producer Peter Collins. Collins, who has worked with acts as diverse as the metal band Rush and pop-folk gal Jewel, was a fitting choice to take the reins on this project, which features a couple significant deviations from the folk-rock compositions for which the Indigo Girls are best known. For example, Amy Ray’s political anthem “Tether,” with its plaintive refrain, “Do we tether the hawk or do we tether the dove?,” sounds like it could have come from the pen of Neil Young. And her two-tone wry ode to a broken love , “Heartache for Everyone,” is authentic-sounding ska. The more adventurous songwriter of the two, Ray continues to push the boundaries of her talents. However, the most surprising of her songs is the first single, “Perfect World.” Musically it is typical Indigo Girls, but lyrically the song presents an incredibly upbeat take on accepting responsibility and being accountable.
Emily Sailers sticks to her mission of perfecting the emotionally and spiritually honest love song that has been her hallmark of her 20-year career. “Love is like breathing when it’s true,” she opines in “Free in You.”
All That We Let In is as comfortable as an old hoodie, and sometimes that’s what we need: a little softness and familiarity.”
