CD-Charts Position 111
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Ep Onymous

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Bellowhead

Release Date April 18, 2005
The title of this revies says it all: "Copshawholme Fair" is an amazing track! Starting off like a normal Bellowhead track it imediatly becomes powerful and Boden's voice, as ever, pours out fantastically.

The first two tracks on the EP, "Rambling Sailor" and "Jack Robertson" are brilliant, "Rambling Sailor" itself is very exciting.

In all this is a good EP, and it matches "Burlesque" for talent and flair.

CD-Charts Position 112
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Live at Blues Alley

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Eva Cassidy

Release Date February 19, 2001
I was heartbroken to hear that Eva Cassidy herself considered Live at Blues Alley to be a lesser work. I think it is her best album and it is the one I reach for first when I need an "Eva Fix." Each song is an individual treasure, and together, they form artistry that continues to make me mourn the loss of one of the 20th Century's finest voices, and people.

CD-Charts Position 113
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The Finest 'arvest of the Wurzels

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Wurzels

Release Date August 13, 2001
Never meant to be taken seriously, the Wurzels have nevertheless proved their longevity by keeping themselves busy making music over a period of more than forty years. For much of the time, they have been content to play local venues in Bristol and Somerset, but they have made an impact nationally (with a British number one hit) and internationally (with the same song becoming a Canadian number one hit). They actually scored hits with five different songs in the British charts. A re-mix of their biggest hit also charted. Wurzel music is difficult to classify. British stores such as HMV and Zavvi generally put it on the easy listening shelves, but I would say that the main influence is folk. The Wurzels like to call their music Scrumpy and Western, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 114
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Teddy Thompson

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Teddy Thompson

Release Date March 06, 2006
Those guys at record companies really don't have a clue do they ? On the cover they're trying to sell Teddy T as some kind of teen pin-up, with awful trendy graphic design into the bargain. The contents within are so much more mature and timeless. In anticipation of his forthcoming album I remembered I had this, his debut from 2000 and dug it out. It's wonderful ! I couldn't believe the quality of songwriting and singing here. Teddy has a superb naturally emotive voice and a beautiful way with a sung melody. Dad Richard is immediately identifiable on guitar and weaves some delicious curlicues around the vocals throughout the album. (If you're a Richard Thompson fan it's worth buying for his fantastic solos alone, they're that good). Having one of the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 115
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Nashville Skyline

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Bob Dylan

Release Date March 29, 2004
Having infuriated the folkies by "going electric", Bob Dylan, in 1969-70, threw another creative spanner in the works and alienated some of his electric era fans by "going country". Country music has always been somewhat unfashionable in "rock" circles, and things were no different upon the release of this extremely short album. "He's selling his fans short again" were the now-regular catcalls from a music media keen the destroy the monster they had helped to perpetuate via seven years of obsequiousness. In these days of 70 minute plus CD albums, an album clocking in at around half an hour doesn't represent good value for money, but that said, it is an extremely pleasant and appealing little diversionary piece of work.

Dylan had changed his ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 116
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Want Two

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Rufus Wainwright

Release Date March 07, 2005
Hard as teak, soft as cotton, sinuous as corded muscle...to me, Rufus Wainwright's voice is a thing of beauty. Yet, on other days I think it sounds whiney, nasal and annoying. But I rather like the idea of a musician who is different every time I hear him.

As has been noted by others, this album is a bit of a patchwork affair that, perhaps, lacks continuity. However, it's a rich confection of an album and can be a little too overwhelming to contemplate in a single sitting.

Yet there's much beauty here...Peach Trees just seems to soar and soar. Memphis Skyline a moving paean to Jeff Buckley. And Waiting for a Dream has a strange, metronomic / woozy quality that quietly hypnotises.

If you're in the right frame of mind, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 117
Average Rating:

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Ys

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Joanna Newsom

Release Date November 06, 2006
Joanna Newsom's latest is classic. She hasn't lost her freakfolk sound. She's just expanded it.

And she strays from conventional freakfolk in her second album, "Ys," by sticking to sprawling, intricate songs that clock in at about ten minutes average, and enhancing her folky sound with... an orchestra. It's a bit like listening to an acid-tripping fairy tell you her life story.

It opens with "Emily," a gentle little ballad that works itself up in a flow of violins. "The meadowlark and the chim-choo-ree and the sparrow/Set to the sky in a flying spree, for the sport over the pharaoh," Newsom warbles. There's a bittersweet note to the hints of loss, but Newsom also fills it with childish wonderment at the world.

Then it's time ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 118
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The Very Best of Jake Thackray

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Jake Thackray

Release Date April 14, 2003
As a tiny lad in the late 60s I used to love Jake's tv appearances - I loved the sound of his guitar playing and his deadpan delivery and his vocals used to have me in stitches, though I couldn't have understood 99% of the lyrics! Then last year, four decades later, I read an article on the release of Jake's boxed set in Mojo magazine. Straight onto Amazon I ordered myself a copy of the Very Best of Jake Thackray. What a fabulous delight. I have since ordered another five copies which I've sent out to various friends, and here I am on Amazon again, ordering another three copies for further friends. Spreading the word. Jake, you're fab, unique and wonderful. There will never be anyone else like you. Wishing you were here.

CD-Charts Position 119
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Good As I've Been to You

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Bob Dylan

Release Date February 10, 1997
What I like about Dylan is that he does plenty of covers.Self Portait and its still-not-issued-on CD sequel DYLAN was Dylan playing the covers game-which at least proved he wasn't big headed enough to keep doing his own songs.
I also liked the way he walloped other peoples' songs and passed them off as his own-though mainly this came from the common stock.
The recent Theme Time Radio Hour indicates what's always been there-that Dylan is a Human Jukebox just waiting to be plugged in.
He's covered songs no one else would have touched but may I suggest he now does a version of Dust my broom

CD-Charts Position 120
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Action Packed: the Best of the Capitol Years

CD-Charts > Music > Folk Bestsellers
by: Richard Thompson

Release Date April 16, 2001
I recently bought this album, a true tour de force of Richard Thompsons Capitol years and capital years. My major complaint was it was not long enough. A two CD collection would have been better. While the two tracks from "Amnesia" are brilliant I would have liked to see "Yankee Go Home" at least on this collection. I must admit I have lost touch a lot with Richard Thompson, previous to Amnesia the last album I bought was on Polydor, called "Across a Crowded Room" and I was really disappointed with it. I think that was his first solo album after his break-up with Linda and it really reflected that.

On the strength of this album I may invest in some more of the Capitol albums, perhaps making "Rumour and Sigh" my first venture.