Unbearable Love

Reprising the trio harmony of Walela's debut, vocalist Rita Coolidge is joined by both her sister Pricilla and her niece, Laura Satterfield. The group leans further into their easy blend of Native gospel pop, venturing into a deep country soul a capella in places, most successfully on the first cut, "Gathering of Eagles." "I Have No Indian Name" employs some nice fiddling, and elsewhere banjo, pump organ, and piano serve to accent primitive percussion. The Robbie Robertson Native-rock influence is heard on several of the moodier arrangements, such as "I Know I Don't Walk on Water" and the "When It Comes." Strongest of all, "Cherokee Rose" is a powerful anthem and sister to the title cut on Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt's Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions. "When Love Was All We Knew" is over the top and a little too much like a Coca-Cola commercial, and the overall listening experience would benefit from more warmth and grit in the production. --Paige La Grone