Circles & Arrows sits somewhere between folk, pop, and country, with the kind of smart songwriting and vocal warmth that initially made me think of the Indigo Girls blended with Carly Simon.
The melodies are approachable and hooky, but it’s the emotional connection that makes this album so rewarding. Cheryl Wheeler has a terrific voice, capable of sounding gentle, conversational, heartbreaking, or filled with humor depending on what the song needs.
“I Know This Town” is an immediately catchy introduction, with a melody and easygoing drive that give it a wonderful bounce. It’s a nostalgic small-town song that oddly reminded me of something you’d hear from John Fogerty. Wheeler’s singing is terrific, bringing plenty of warmth and personality to the performance. “Hard Line to Draw” moves in a different direction, a gorgeous, restrained ballad with a classic country feel.
“Aces” is a major highlight. It’s a beautifully written, heartbreaking country-folk song with a classic quality to its melody and arrangement. Wheeler’s vocal is terrific, and the addition of Vince Gill’s accompanying vocals gives it another dimension. It’s the kind of song that feels like it should have been covered about a hundred times.
“Estate Sale” shows another side of Wheeler’s songwriting, bringing humor and a looser, more playful energy to the album. There’s some conversational chatter before the song kicks in, and the whole thing has a catchy, bouncy country-folk feel.
“Don’t Wanna” is another stunning ballad. The production is gorgeous, giving the song a full, beautifully balanced sound without taking anything away from Wheeler’s voice. Her singing is exceptional, and the songwriting is just as strong. It’s an incredibly well-crafted song, and one that completely blew me away.
“Northern Girl” has a warm, reflective quality, with a sense of connection to home and place. “Soon As I Find My Voice” shifts into a more upbeat, pop-oriented sound. The arrangement has a lovely bounce, with muted horns adding some color. There’s something about the production that brings Tanita Tikaram to mind.
“Miss You More Than I’m Mad” has one of those great titles that practically tells the whole story. It’s a gentle, bittersweet song about the complicated feelings that remain when you’re angry with someone but still love and miss them. Wheeler captures that emotional tug-of-war beautifully, balancing hurt, loneliness, regret, and the desire to come home.
“Moonlight and Roses” is another delicate, piano-led ballad, and one of the most beautiful songs on the album. “When You’re Gone” is a highlight, too, with a lovely melody and the kind of heartfelt vocal performance Wheeler makes sound so natural.
She closes the album with “Arrow,” a fragile acoustic song that brings everything to a fitting conclusion. There’s a tenderness to it, built around a simple desire for love and connection.
What I keep coming back to is how naturally Wheeler connects with these songs. There’s a warmth to her songwriting that carries through everything here, whether she’s delivering a heartbreaking ballad or having a little fun. The melodies are consistently strong, the arrangements give the songs plenty of character, and her voice brings out every bit of feeling in the material. You can feel it in every guitar strum and every note she sings.
This isn’t even a genre I naturally gravitate toward, but I loved this album. Cheryl Wheeler is an exceptional songwriter, and based on these songs alone, she’s someone I think deserves to be celebrated among the greats. Circles & Arrows is full of heartfelt songwriting, and I can’t ask for much more than that.
Verdict: Great
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