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Kate McGarrigle<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/peewubblewoo">Peewubblewoo</a>/Flickr
Various Artists
Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate McGarrigle
Nonesuch
Drawn from concerts in New York, London, and Toronto, and produced by Joe Boyd (also recently responsible for a terrific Nick Drake tribute), this exhilarating two-disc set commemorates the beloved Canadian singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle, who died in 2010. Participants include her longtime musical partner, sister Anna McGarrigle, plus kids Rufus and Martha Wainwright and a gaggle of friends and fans, among them Norah Jones, Jimmy Fallon, Emmylou Harris, Linda Thompson, Richard Thompson, and Broken Social Scene.
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But McGarrigle’s compositions are the main reason to listen. Tender, funny and reliably clear-eyed in her portrayal of grown-up relationships, she never let heartache get in the way of a great melody or compelling narrative. If “Kiss and Say Goodbye” or “I Cried for Us” doesn’t strike a nerve, then “Tell My Sister” or “Go Leave” surely will. While the final track, Kate’s home demo of “I Just Want to Make It Last,” provides a suitably poignant coda, don’t stop there: If you’re unfamiliar with the McGarrigle sisters’ albums, there’s a host of fine songs waiting to be discovered.