New World is the fourth album by the singer/songwriter Karla Bonoff and her first in six years.
In 1989, Linda Ronstadt included three of Bonoff's compositions on her Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind album. One, "All My Life," won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. In 1993, Wynonna Judd had a country music hit with Bonoff's "Tell Me Why," on which Bonoff played guitar and sang backing vocals.
In 2023, "Way of the Heart" was featured in Carrie Bradshaw's dinner party scene in Season 2, Episode 11 of And Just Like That....
Reception
AllMusic's William Ruhlmann noted retrospectively that with this album Bonoff "once again demonstrated her talent for plaintive romantic ballads." MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide wrote that the album "contains Bonoff's best batch of songs since her debut." The Washington Post wrote that Bonoff "still creates sweet, simple melodies, and sings them with purity and sincerity, but they are sabotaged by vaporous lyrics that don't develop much beyond repeating titles like 'Tell Me Why' and 'Still Be Getting Over You.'"
Track listing
All songs written by Karla Bonoff, except where noted.
Personnel
Karla Bonoff – lead vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar
Mark Goldenberg – keyboards, programming, guitars, bass (1, 4-10) Peter Frampton – acoustic guitar (2), guitar solo (3, 8) Jennifer Condos – bass (2, 3) Debra Dobkin – percussion (2, 4, 6, 8) Kenny Edwards – backing vocals (3) Karen Blake – backing vocals (3)
Production
Mark Goldenberg – producer
Larry Hinds – recording, mixing
Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Precision Lacquer (Hollywood, California) Claudia Kunin – photography Alana Coghlan & Associates – design Michael Solomon – management