Folk & Country > Active Media/Universal Music Folk & Country

Thea Gilmore - one seriously p*ssed off angel!

Advantages: Unparalled lyrics, clever arrangements and lots of little barbed comments throughout
Disadvantages: Not a household name, so hardly anyone has heard of her

...remains a favourite. Avalanche "There's a rumour Dirty as a chimney stack Quiet as road-kill On the northbound carriageway" So Thea Gilmore can do barbed and depressing, but can she do haunting melodies? With "Avalanche"she proves that she most certainly can. Whilst there's a subtle beauty glossed over the surface delivery throughout, it's only a thin veneer which hides the creeping, menacing undercurrents below. It seems that plenty of production ...
...for programming but the end result sounds very stripped down and bereft of accompaniment - there's some deceptively sparse percussion but very little else apart from Stonier's flanged-up guitar. Of course, you're not concentrating on what's going on in the background, since Thea's mesmerising vocals keep your attention front and centre at all times - whilst they've been messed with slightly by the electronics too, this track contains arguably her ...

graeme10 17.02.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Avalanche - Thea Gilmore

Unpredictable Green World of Dar Williams

Advantages: Modern folk with profound lyrics and beautiful melodies.
Disadvantages: Not widely available

...came across this CD, "The Green World". The CD is the fourth of Dar Williams solo albums released in 2002 by Razor & Tie and I was not disappointed. The CD is enjoyable for many reasons. Each of the songs is a delight to listen to instilled with the folk-song storytelling quality. Dar's voice is pleasing and clear; at times wistful, at others mournful, sometimes childlike and sometimes whimsical. The lyrics are amazing and original; they are catchy ...
..."the closed world" and "the green world". "The closed world" symbolized the ordered part of life whilst "the green world" represented the unpredictable side of life. This concept is reflected in many of the tracks, which illustrate the transforming influence of the natural world over the lives of people. The CD opens with "Playing to the Firmament" is on a superficial level light and pop-like. More than one person has even likened it to Abba's Dancing ...

MAFARRIMOND 26.10.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Green World, The - Dar Williams

Can't Fight the Moonlight

Advantages: Nice songs, great voice, duets
Disadvantages: None

...win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Since her debut, Rimes has won many major industry awards, which include two Grammys, three ACMs, one CMA, twelve Billboard Music Awards, and one American Music award. In addition, Rimes has also released ten studio albums and four compilation albums through her record label of 13 years, Asylum-Curb, and placed over 40 singles on American and international charts since 1996. She has sold over 50 million albums ...
...with touselled hair. The Best of LeAnn Rimes is a greatest hits album. It was released in 2004. It is the international edition of LeAnn Rimes Greatest Hits, released in the US in 2003. The album peaked at #2 on the UK charts, becoming her highest-charting album there. Worldwide, album has sold over 2.5 million copies. One of my favourite tracks on the album is the first song, Can't Fight the Moonlight. I think this is probably because it was featured ...

Spottydog11 06.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Best Of LeAnn Rimes, The - LeAnn Rimes

Stronger - Carlene Carter

Advantages: Excellent vocals, some really catchy songs, great instruments
Disadvantages: Occasional hints of Shania Twain which scare me

...Change Your Heart 4. Bring Love 5. I'm So Cool 6. Spider Lace 7. On to You 8. Judgment Day 9. Break my Little Heart in Two 10. It Takes One to Know You 11. Light of Your Love 12. Stronger ...

fizzytom 04.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Stronger - Carlene Carter

Rain and Fire in the Sky

Advantages: Killer title track, strong vocals, oustanding guitar and banjo playing
Disadvantages: The saccharine factor on a couple of tracks might leave a bitter aftertaste

There are two things that are guaranteed to evoke memories and they are music and smells. My father loved many types of music but what he was always drawn to was a man who could play a guitar while singing. Not an electric guitar however - for my father it had to be acoustic and if the performer could play 12 string then so much the better. So while he had LPs by Nat "King" Cole, Perry Como, The Seekers and Jerry Vale, the records he played the most ...
...Who is John Denver? Born in New Mexico in 1943 as Henry John Deutschendorf Jnr, Denver changed his name in honour of the state capital of Colorado - a place which inspired him creatively, emotionally and politically. Denver discovered the guitar at the age of 12 and from then he was destined to be a singer, songwriter and performer, and he cut his teeth on the folk circuit in the US, particularly on the east coast. His first success was as a ...

rosebud2001 02.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Rocky Mountain High - John Denver