Roots music with a soulful feel. Two guitars, bass and cello with warm, resonant melodies. Songs that reach out and bring you back to earth.

This is the 6th release for the St. Louis-based roots quartet. The band's vibe is effortless and the music will move you. Each song has a story to tell. Recorded in front of a live audience, fueled by the

Roots music with a soulful feel. Two guitars, bass and cello with warm, resonant melodies. Songs that reach out and bring you back to earth.

This is the 6th release for the St. Louis-based roots quartet. The band's vibe is effortless and the music will move you. Each song has a story to tell. Recorded in front of a live audience, fueled by the energy and the love in the room. Smoky tones and rich sounds. This one has all the feels.

Rootsy, soulful acoustic music, with rich melody and harmony lines and songs that come straight from within...2 guitars, bass, cello...

A roots group with a straightforward and unassuming style, a sound that is stripped down to it’s core, and songs that come straight from within, Salt of the Earth formed early in the spring of 2003. The members

Rootsy, soulful acoustic music, with rich melody and harmony lines and songs that come straight from within...2 guitars, bass, cello...

A roots group with a straightforward and unassuming style, a sound that is stripped down to it’s core, and songs that come straight from within, Salt of the Earth formed early in the spring of 2003. The members are Lynne Reif on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Mike Schrand on bass and baritone guitars and vocals, Jake Brookman on cello and Jim Hieger on lead acoustic guitar and banjo. Both Lynne and Mike have history playing and singing in the St. Louis-based Roots-Rock band Belle Starr (1996-2002). Jake is a classically trained cellist who has played in groups ranging from symphony orchestras to punk bands. Jim is a self-taught all-natural lead player who has history performing out with jam-style bands. Salt of the Earth features original songwriting, which aims to chew on life in a heartfelt way, and spans the genres of pop, folk and blues. The group puts down rhythmic instrumental accompaniment complemented by rich melody and harmony lines.
Sit back and listen to the music.
That’s all there is.

The Debut Album by Salt of the Earth. Includes the story-filled song, "Mary's Hope."

“…with a stripped to the bone sound that relies on the plaintive beauty of Reif’s limpid voice that’s never crowded by backing that manages to be both rich and subdued, apart from Patty Griffin’s Long Ride Home, Reif wrote all 14 quietly beautiful songs. There’s

The Debut Album by Salt of the Earth. Includes the story-filled song, "Mary's Hope."

“…with a stripped to the bone sound that relies on the plaintive beauty of Reif’s limpid voice that’s never crowded by backing that manages to be both rich and subdued, apart from Patty Griffin’s Long Ride Home, Reif wrote all 14 quietly beautiful songs. There’s no flash, twang and thunder here, as Reif says in the (minimalist) one sheet, “Sit back and listen to the music. That’s all there is” 4 out of 5 ****flowers

John Conquest, Third Coast Music, San Antonio, TX, March, 2005