50 years later, Baez still rules

New York folk singer Joan Baez rose to fame during the ’60s folk scene and has been performing for over 50 years. She dated Bob Dylan and sang covers from Phil Ochs and Woody Guthrie on her way to becoming a large part of the ’60s folk era.

She was also very active in civil rights issues; most notably her marches with Martin Luther King, and later her protests against the Vietnam War. Baez was arrested in 1967 for blocking the entrance to the Armed Forces Induction Center in Oakland, Calif., which caused her to spend a month in jail.

Day After Tomorrow is the folk legend’s latest work. The album is full of covers that range from pieces by Steve Earle to Elvis Costello and Tom Waits. Earle also produced the album.

The sweet sounding “Mary” is one of the album’s best tracks. The soft folk ballad has a tinge of bluegrass blended into the sound. Baez’s voice rings out with rich vibratos when she’s not yearning in a soulful contralto.

The chorus lifts the song with harmonious singing that takes center stage. Equipped with acoustic guitar, mandolin and violin, this piece pulls out all the stops of an indelible folk/bluegrass triumph. Fans of bluegrass singer Alison Krauss will appreciate this tune.

The fervent “Day After Tomorrow” is another soothing song in this peaceful collection. Other than a bass, the work has only Baez’s soft voice and acoustic guitar. The dreamy campfire-feel number meanders smoothly in and out of consciousness for over five minutes, evoking a sleep-inducing state.

Though originally composed by Tom Waits and his wife Kathleen Brennan for Waits’ 2004 album Real Gone, Baez’s rendition has a ’60s folk vibe.

Day After Tomorrow proves Baez can still be relevant after all these years. While these aren’t original works, she adds a crafty, delicate aura to them. Her voice sounds marvelous on every track, and most songs contain either a classical/folk or bluegrass nuance to add depth. While this album will likely be far out of the mainstream, it will be appreciated by many who seek it out.