A late-night phone call awoke Amy Speace recently, and the ethereal murmur she heard was the distinct voice of folk icon Judy Collins. Speace listened as Collins introduced the next song of her set, explaining it was written by “an emerging young American songwriter who I think is right up there, writing some incredible songs. This is, to me, the best anti-war song I've heard in a long time," added Collins, before singing "The Weight of the World," the bonus track from Speace's new album 'The Killer In Me,' released yesterday by Collins' own Wildflower Records.
Watch the video for "The Weight of the World" here:
Collins isn't the only one who can't stop raving about Speace's talents. Critics are also smitten with the New Jersey-based folk rocker, and 'The Killer In Me,' out now:
"her velvety, achy voice recalls an early Lucinda Williams. Sounding grounded but wounded, Speace exudes the vulnerability of someone who's loved and lost."
- Alex Cohen, NPR.org, 6.12.09
"a deep, dark album full of lush, emotive lyrics, masterful acoustic guitar work and just the right mix of percussion to make up-tempo numbers...rock just right...If you bemoan the lack of solid singer-songwriters in the folk world who can bridge inner turmoil with universal experience, Speace is just what you need to hear."
- Nancy Dunham, Washington Post (DC), 6.12.09
"[Speace] will likely increase her following substantially with this album. It's a dark, deeply personal album... Producer-guitarist James Mastro (of the Bongos and the Health and Happiness Show) and engineer Mitch Easter (whose credits include R.E.M. and Pavement) help give the album a rough-edged, roots-rock sound that perfectly complements Speace's unsettling lyrics."
- Jay Lustig, Newark Star Ledger (NJ), 6.26.09
"Amy Speace revels in her commanding growl on 'The Killer in Me.' Fans of Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls could connect."
- Jon Takiff, Philadelphia Daily News (PA), 6.30.09
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Amy Speace Earns Accolades From Mentor Judy Collins And Critics For 'The Killer In Me' 
