Cris Williamson

In 1975, Cris Williamson’s The Changer and the Changed, an indie record completely produced by women, started a genre. Thirty years later, Williamson remains independent; she’s recently released The Real Deal, combining folk, rock and pop with her trademark melodic fusion of politics and spirituality. “Songbird” is a light and delightful meditation on hope that takes its metaphor from an Emily Dickinson poem, while “Mercy” finds inspiration in a battered boat. “Waters of Spokane” takes on pollution caused by Washington’s mining industry and at the same time acknowledges our connection to the Earth. The title track is an amazing, bluesy statement on authenticity. Through it all, Williamson’s clarion voice and understated arrangements keep it simple and true.