Waifs
(Compass Records)
For those unawares, the Waifs might best be described as a populist combo whose eclectic approach finds them freely bending boundaries between folk, rock, blues, swing and standards. Although their hometown following took root in their native Australia, their fame now teeters on global proportions, thanks in large measure to a cozy communal stage presence similar to that of other homespun bands like the Coors, the Dixie Chicks and Nickel Creek. Fortunately, their charms are laced with sincerity, allowing that giddy exuberance to provide just complement to the group's musical prowess.
Like most live albums, Live From The Union of Soul offers a decent sampling of the Waifs' previous repertoire, making for a lively set that's injected with some self-effacing stage patter and even the occasional missed cue. This gives songs such as "How Many Miles," "Stay" and "Take It In" an unlikely combination of exuberance and intimacy that guarantees that bond between the performers and the audience becomes all the more seamless. Even a couple of covers - Paul Kelly's resilient "From Little Things" and the sentimental standard "I Remember You" -- find a perfect fit in this eclectic barnstormer of a performance. A perfect primer, Live From the Union of Soul finds the Waifs bringing it all home.
Standout tracks: "From Little Things," "London
Still," "When I Die" LEE ZIMMERMAN
