Golden Apples of the Sun press
NPR All Things Considered : “Just beautiful.” – Mary Louise Kelly
Boston Globe : “Herring’s haunting, honey-husk voice seems to be singing only to you. Full of fresh turns, yet as knowable as your best friend’s smile.” Top 10 Folk Albums of 2009 - Scott Alarik
No Depression: “There’s a purity, a clarity, and a subtly engaging ambition in Caroline Herring’s fourth album, Golden Apples of the Sun, one of the year’s best singer/ songwriter releases. –Jim Morrison
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Golden Apples of the Sun (is) a work of magical intimacy and immediacy. Listening to the album, it's as if she's right there with you, telling her powerful tales to an audience of one." – Shane Harrison
All Music Guide: “It's not easy being a great folksinger -- Kate Wolf, Linda Thompson, and Iris DeMent are some of the names on the short list, but Golden Apples of the Sun makes a strong case for the addition of Caroline Herring.” - Jim Allen
Austin Chronicle: “[Herring is] still penning chapters in her composer’s notebook, filled with puzzle-piece songs of intimate longing and perspective.” - Margaret Moser
Utne Reader: “Spare but powerful singer-songwriter gems, full of rich and evocative imagery. In “The Dozens” she turns an insult into artistry.” - Keith Goetzman
The Oxford American : “Golden Apples is the album of a woman who has come into her powers as a singer-songwriter, claiming as her stomping ground the territory where folk meets alt-country.” - Beth Ann Fennelly
MOJO: “There’s a real depth of feeling to her songs and singing that makes you stop and listen.” - Sylvie Simmons
Vintage Guitar: "With her voice, guitar, and little else, Caroline Herring delivers a powerful musical statement that defines not only her own artistry, but how much folk music has changed in the last 40 years." – Steven Stone
BLURT: "Golden Apples of the Sun finds singer/songwriter Caroline Herring following in the footsteps of Joni, Joan, Judy and Emmylou in offering full devotion to the sepia hues of folk finesse." – Lee Zimmerman
The Guardian UK – “Herring has set out to revive American 1960s acoustic folk styles as the setting for her bold range of songs. She sounds like a classic early folkie…[but she] is far more than just a revivalist with eclectic taste. I suspect her early heroines would be impressed.” 12/31/09
CMT: “If you’re drawn to simple records where the focus is on unadorned vocals, a handful of instruments and smart, cinematic songs, I bet you’d like these apples” – Craig Shelburne
Atlanta Creative Loafing: “From the intricate finger-picking intro to the final spiritually tinged note, Decatur GA folk singer Caroline Herring has created a rich panorama that captures the essence of her voice, the power of her words, and the unique ability to interpret the work of others.” – James Kelly
The Sunday Paper: “There are very few contemporary singer-songwriters willing to release such stark, compelling albums, works that force you to listen and absorb their musical and lyrical details. And even fewer who do it as successfully as Herring.” - Hal Horowitz
The New Southerner: “Caroline Herring's newest project is an ordered, cohesive musical whole, rife with stunning images, elegant folk melodies and universal themes that resonate with listeners. Her musical and lyrical gifts are too bountiful not to share with each other.” - Marianne Worthington
OpEd News: "Musically and artistically, this album marks a continuing expansion, maturity, and blossoming of Caroline's work." – Mac McKinney
Hyperbolium – “The assuredness with which she sings adds weight to every word, and the emotion-laden quality of her voice can bring tears to your eyes.” - Eli Messinger
Rock and Reprise: “Caroline Herring has never sounded better. Her voice, somehow both strong and delicate, wraps itself around each song, each phrase, laying it down with a soft waver which falls short of vibrato and sounds so right. She has never had a better touch with songs, either hers or others’, picking and choosing with unerring taste…” – Frank O. Gutch, Jr.
Pop Dose: “Simple, austere and lovely. - Jeff Giles
Pop Matters: “Caroline Herring’s keening alto and hummingbird vibrato will grab you hard on her blisteringly beautiful new album, Golden Apples of the Sun.” - Steve Leftridge
Present Magazine: "Listening to Herring sing, her stark voice rings out as elegant, unguarded, and honest no matter how dark and daring the song's depths might plunge." - Pete Dulin
Rambles: “Small miracles abound on this marvelous recording. With Golden Apples of the Sun she is on her way, I trust, to the attention and acclaim someone with her gifts has coming.” - Jerome Clark
3rd Coast Music: "With Golden Apples of the Sun… Caroline Herring cements her position in the top tier of acoustic folk-country artists." – John Conquest
Cover Lay Down: "Golden Apples of the Sun turns this southern girl's lyrical eye inward to great effect. The originals are exquisite, featuring deep, deliberate, mature songwriting coupled with that stripped-down sound and breathy, gracefully fragile voice." – Joshua Farber
"This is an intriguing album by a mature performer who has much to say and the skill and
talent as a songwriter to say it well. Her voice is at once powerful, plaintive and
passionate and has an undoubted ability to move the listener. Remarkably, there are very
few hidden depths in this CD, everything is presented upfront and with a passion and
clarity that imbues it with raw emotional power." – Ian Murray
"This is a record by an artist at the height of her game. One listen and you’ll know that
Caroline Herring is the real deal, and she’s the singer-songwriter for this generation of
people who appreciate real, unadulterated music." – Silas House
Midwest Record: "Herring expresses herself right from the heart and makes herself at one with your ears. A solid winner throughout from a great sounding singer/songwriter who has learned there's no shame in being a right on interpreter as well. Hot stuff that she's more than got the chops for." – Chris Spector
Music Road: "Listening to Caroline Herring's latest album is a bit like having a good conversation with a friend, one that spins long into the night as you share stories, talk over old times, think of questions you've asked, questions you've answered, and those you still have, catch up on what may be next, and encourage each other along the way. There are more facets to this gem each time around." – Kerry Dexter
BabySue/LMNOP Reviews: "On Golden Apples of the Sun, Caroline proves that when you have genuine talent, you don't need tons of backing instruments and state-of-the-art technology. Caroline has a voice that is mesmerizing and real… and a perfect fit for the pensive, simple sound of her music."