Awkward Annie
Product Details | Similar Products | Customer Reviews | Artist: Kate Rusby List Price: £14.99  |
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 | Product Details: Release Date: 03 September 2007 Record Label: Pure Records Rating:   Sales Rank: 2513 | | Look for similar items by category:
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| | Customer Reviews: Yes but (01 December 2008)Kate Rusby has a lovely voice and the arrangements of this collection of songs are sensitive. What's not to like? Well there is one big flaw for me - the lyrics. It's partly that for a 21st century girl to be writing songs about maidens, knights and castles seems odd. This is not a complaint about people singing folk songs. Those songs were about their times but it's strange to hear a woman with her own website writing as if she were a medieval troubadour. But it gets worse. One of the best songs on the album is John Barbury great vocal, lovely accompaniment. But the words get in the way. Here's an example. In one line a girl denies she looks ill because had "lain with a man". Then the next line explains she is "nine months gone" and John Barbury's the father. Nonsense unfortunately and a distraction from some fine music. The song that stands out is Village Green Preservation Society which has a fine lyricist Ray Davies behind it. What a relief and good to see the singer enjoying the son. A hidden treasure (25 November 2008)I can't believe it has taken me so long to discover Kate Rusby. My record collection is dominated by the works of great female singer-songwriters like Janis Ian and Joni Mitchell, as well as more recent talents such as Gillian Welch and Dar Williams. Yet I'm ashamed to say that I only learnt about Kate accidentally from a TV documentary about her a few months ago. The first thing that struck me was the sheer quality of her singing on one of her own songs, "The Lark" from "The Girl who couldn't fly" album, as well as the artistry of her lyric writing. I went out and bought the aforementioned album on the off chance that I would probably enjoy some of it, but was astonished to find that the whole album was of the same impeccable standard. Since then, of course, I've bought all her CDs, including her most recent release, "Awkward Annie" which may well be her best yet. She draws some of her material from the rich tradition of English and Scottish ballads, but she also has a very rare ability to write contemporary songs that sound as though they've been around for much longer. On "Awkward Annie", standout tracks include "Farewell" and "Blooming Heather". Another very distinctive quality of her music is that it blends influences from the twin traditions of British and American folk music. The use of banjo, accordian and mandolin on many of the tracks gives the music a haunting, plaintive quality similar to some bluegrass and Appalachian music. If you're new to Kate's music, like me, you can be confident that this album will provide a perfect introduction, but to be honest the standard of her work is so consistent that you could start with any of her albums - she really is that good. I'm looking forward to seeing her at the Blackheath Concert Halls in London on 14th December where she is going to be playing music from her new album of carols and other christmas songs. What a discovery (16 July 2008)I like to listen to Jerry Anderson on BBC Radio Ulster, he's really funny (although when my English Nephew was visiting he couldn't understand a word anyone on the show was saying) and he plays nice folk music. I heard the song 'village green appreciation society' a few times on his show, and thought it was brill (I don't remember the Kinks version.) I surfed the net to find who sang it, and came across Kate Rusby - what a discovery! I bought this album on the strength of that one track, and have played it nearly to death already. I like all the songs, as well a loving Kate's accent (I spent two years in Leeds when I was at college, and it brings me back to those happy times.) Buy it. Play it. Love it. Worth it for the Kinks reworking (08 May 2008)How can anyone who has heard this album agree with the creature who gave it 1 star? Whilst it's not my favourite KR set, it shines like a diamond in the dross of contemporary music and is worth the purchase price for the kinks rework from Jam & Jerusalem. Sure to please all folk fans. (01 March 2008)This is one of Kate's best albums. In the past she has tended to overload her selections with the same themes, many of them quite despondent. Despite her unfortunate personal problems she has somehow managed to come up with a greater share of "up" songs. It's a policy I hope she maintains.Her voice is as sweet as ever,her production sounds in no way inferior to John McCusker, and she has enlisted a couple of new backing musicians to add to her usual retinue. This has helped to freshen things up.Chris Thile does a lovely harmony (along with Eddi Reader)on High on a Hill, plays mandolin and is joined by the excellent John Doyle on another track. The tracks I enjoy most are her own originals, which is another encouraging sign for the future.The title track has a gorgeous lilt which makes me, at any rate, want to sing along with it every time I play it! Was a little disappointed with Blooming Heather described here as "traditional".The song is better known as "Wild Mountain Thyme" or "Go Lassie, Go" and was written by Francie McPeake , who I believe was from Belfast.I don't like the male vocal line used either,so this does not replace Sean Tyrrell as my favourite version. The album's closer is the old Ray Davies song " The Village Green Preservation Society" which is every bit as successful as it is surprising,and is an inspired selection.You can't really go wrong buying this album ! |
