Red House Records (2008)

Meg Hutchinson grew up in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, the daughter of English teachers. She developed an appreciation for words at a young age, and upon inheriting her grandmother’s Martin guitar at age 11, she found a vehicle for the words she was beginning to write.

At 29, Hutchinson has listened to lyrically rich performers such as Greg Brown and Joni Mitchell. She cites poet Mary Oliver as an influence. And she combines those influences and her experiences from making four previous albums into a solid CD, strong in lyrics and acoustic music.

Fans of Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dar Williams, and Patty Griffin should enjoy Hutchinson, who is a quality singer-songwriter with down-to-earth sensibilities.

While “Ready” leads off the disc as an upbeat, quality tune, the first song on Come Up Full that really grabs my attention is “Home.” The verses flow eloquently and the chorus is catchy, sticking in your head long after the tune is over. “Home” is followed by “Whole Bird,” which is one of my favorites from the CD. Hutchinson’s lilting voice and genuine inflections combine with some nice guitar work to create a tune that makes you want to sing along.

“Seeing Stars,” which definitely has a Colvin sound, is a compact tune that packs a lot of punch, while “I’d Like to Know” has an earnest yearning and honesty that comes across as if Hutchinson is talking to you as friend and confidante.

In “Climbing Mountains” Hutchinson offers one of my favorite lines on the disc: “Imagine the whole country asleep at the wheel, inventing so many new ways to avoid what we feel.” And having long been a fan of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” I think Hutchinson gives ode to the classic in “Somewhere” while inventing a fresh new song with powerful messages for our modern world.

Overall, Hutchinson has indeed come up full with this newest CD of 12 songs. If you enjoy a folky female singer and songwriter, you won’t go wrong by checking out the latest offering from Meg Hutchinson.

Tim W. Jackson still has hope that the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.