One True Vine [LP]

Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy proved to be such a good match on You Are Not Alone -- the album won a Grammy in the category of Best Americana Album -- that the two opted to do it again. Not tremendously different from that 2010 set, One True Vine does involve a slightly different core lineup. Tweedy's teenaged son Spencer drums instead of Stephen Hodges, and Tweedy, rather than Jeff Turmes, handles all the bass duties (among several other instruments). The album features another assortment of covers and new material. Its quieter, reserved, slightly darker mood is tipped off with a cover of Low's "Holy Ghost." Mavis' characteristically arresting voice, supported by Mark Greenberg's lightly touched Wurlitzer and a hushed backing vocalist trio of Tiffany "Makeda" Francisco, Kelly Hogan, and Donny Gerrard, sounds like it could have been recorded during a 2 a.m. service. Early Funkadelic classic "Can You Get to That" -- the most inspired choice of the Tweedy sessions -- is done straightforw