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Kate Rusby - Awkward Annie1. Awkward Annie;2. Bitter Boy;3. John Barbury;4. High On A Hill;5. Farewell;6. Planets;7. The Old Man;8. Andrew Lammie;9. Streams Of Nancy;10. Daughter Of Heaven;11. Blooming Heather;12. The Village Green Preservation Society;Release date: 09/03/2007;Region Warning: Please ensure that your DVD player is able to play discs designed for Region ; DVD anamorphic: ; Certificate: ; Encoding: ; Region: ; Language: ; Mins: ; Year: ; Genre: ; Number of Discs: ; Audio: ; Subtitles: ;Platform:KATE RUSBY; Genre:; Rating:; Game Developer:
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Average User Rating: 80% (33 Reviews) | |
| 5 / 5 | Getting better and better
DJM (Scotland) - 31 July 2007 I was lucky enough to see Kate Rusby at the Cambridge Folk Festival, where she was selling advance copies of this, her latest, album. As before, it is a mix of traditional folk stories and new songs. All are excellently performed allowing Kate's northern style to shine though. As with previous albums she is joined by a wide range of other musicians and incorporates bass and strings, and is even joined by Chris Thile (formerly of Nickle Creek) on "The Old Man". The album is finished by the soundtrack song from the BBC program Jam and Jerusalem. A must buy for all Kate Rusby fans - and an excellent example of current folk music. ... Read Full Review » |
| 4 / 5 | Another beauty
The Inquisitor (Northumberland, UK) - 20 September 2007 It's so hard not to have your opinion of this album coloured by knowledge of the circumstances under which it was made (bereavement, divorce), especially with Kate mentioning it herself in the sleeve notes, but that would be doing it a disservice. Although it's very easy to believe she was in a bad place when she wrote 'Bitter Boy', it has to be remembered that much of her music wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs even when her personal life was fine. Trying very hard to put sympathy aside and judge the album on its merits, in some ways it's undeniably more of the same, with the usual mixture of Rusby originals, words trad/tune Rusby, trad arr and one modern cover (a vibrant Village Green Preservation Society). Musically it continues the trend over recent albums of becoming more guitar-based (with major contributions from Ian Carr, Ewan Vernal, Kris Drever and Andy Seward) and less dependent on melody instruments such as fiddle and accordion. There's also a couple of the now-obligatory, welcome appearances from her brass section. Yes, much of it is fairly mournful (even the apparently upbeat title track has a sting in the tail), but there's comedy too in the traditional The Old Man, and a beautiful version of the standard Wild Mountain Thyme, going here under the name Blooming Heather. On the technical side, it's impossible to fault Kate's debut as producer; while her voice is as sweet and pure as ever. I'm not sure Awkward Annie has the couple of stand-out tracks which would enable it to rival Underneath the Stars or Little Lights, but very few albums do. This is a worthy addition to Kate's discography.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | "She's gone to a new place now."
David T. Steere, Jr. (Annapolis, MD United States) - 29 September 2007 "I am wandering now. Through this world I am wandering, wandering, These are the days I live now." (from "Planets") AWKWARD ANNIE is beautiful and melancholy. I don't want to read too much into the music knowing how difficult the last two years have been for Kate. I can imagine, though, it must have been as tough as her liner notes indicate. It's funny how you want artists you love to be happy and free from the heartaches which plague most humans. John McCusker must have been a tough genius to live with. The good news is that Kate has made one helluvah debut as producer and arranger. Definitely not adrift without the guiding brilliance of John. The poignancy is potent in many places in the record--most strongly in "The Bitter Boy," "Farewell," "Planets," "Andrew Lammie" and "Daughter of Heaven." How many of the lyrics and sentiments are meant to be autobiographical I don't know--hard to avoid thinking so with "The Bitter Boy." As to her usual high standard, she mixes lovely traditionals (for which she's written music) and several gorgeous originals which--as is always the case with Kate--sound somehow old and new at the same time. One characteristic, I think, of her producing and arranging is a new emphasis on instrumental interludes in the midst of the songs. I count eight songs in which the magic combination of instrumentalists are allowed to do their own thing for extended periods. How beautiful those players play. Several songs have a whole group of string players and several others a great mix of horns. The banjo figures in several songs more than in previous albums. And what a group of harmony singers: Eddi, Chris, Joe and the amazing deep voice of John Hudson. The latter and Eddi Reader work such choral magic in my favorite song on the album, "Blooming Heather," that I get goosebumps every time I listen to it. This--in spite of all the versions I've heard and liked of this song under its more common name, "Wild Mountain Thyme." This is the best version, the most moving one, I know of this great song. Overall, my favorites are "The Bitter Boy," "John Barbury," "High on a Hill," "Planets," "Daughter of Heaven," and, of course, "Blooming Heather." One signature moment--Donald Shaw's gorgeous piano work in "John Barbury." Exquisite. And Kate and Eddi were made to harmonize. I hope the artistic achievement of AWKWARD ANNIE and the support of her family give Kate much solace. ... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Rusby Classic
M. Olyett "Folk boy" (Watford, Herts) - 2 September 2007 I recently went to see(August 31) Kate and her wonderful band at the Alban Arena, St Albans. I purchase the CD of this album, and she played quite a few tracks from it. It seems that the album was recorded at a time of personal loss and strain for her. This is reflected in a lot of the tracks, which have a profoundly melancholy feel to them. The track, 'Planets' is a good example of this. However this does not detract from anything you would expect from a Kate Rusby collection. The usual fine collection of players; McCusker, Cutting, Carr and Seaward plus some interesting brass and string arrangements. Kate Rusby knows folk music very well but imbues it with something that is all her very own. She is genuine, self-deprecating and talented, something we are bereft of in this 'X' Factor world. In closing buy this album for a real treat, albeit a sad one.... Read Full Review » |
| 2 / 5 | Disappointing offering
Susan Cooke "Festival chick" (Glastonbury UK) - 7 September 2007 I was really disappointed with this latest offering from Kate. Usually I love her music - okay so it follows a tried and tested formula - safe and predictable but lovely nonetheless. This goes beyond safe and predictable and strays into the realms of dull and boring. If there is anyone out there reading this who wants to try Kate Rusby for the first time then don't start with this one - her other cds are SO much better. |
RRP
£14.99
Release Date
3 September 2007
Price Range
£7.99 - £14.93