CD-Charts Position 1
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That's Proper Folk

by: Various Artists

Release Date April 07, 2008
Who cares whether it's proper folk; it's proper good and at an indecently low price

CD-Charts Position 2
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Dreams of Breathing Underwater

by: Eliza Carthy

Release Date June 23, 2008
Eliza is a huge talent- writing , playing and a voice like no other, but for me this CD seems to have lost the sound and emotion and subtlety that I love about much of her work.
Big sound, but unsatisfying , maybe less is more?

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Definitive Collection

by: Waterson:Carthy

Release Date March 07, 2005
Eliza is a huge talent- writing , playing and a voice like no other, but for me this CD seems to have lost the sound and emotion and subtlety that I love about much of her work.
Big sound, but unsatisfying , maybe less is more?

CD-Charts Position 4
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Rough Music

by: Eliza Carthy

Release Date April 18, 2005
An outstanding CD from a group of extremely talented musicians.

As the title may suggest, they are not afraid of rough edges - letting the music speak for itself. The result is brimful with vitality, the songs having had none of the soul 'polished' out of them.

Personalluy, I enjoy the a capella singing, but that may be a matter of taste. A special mention must go to 'Turpin Hero' - until recently I had only heard this beautiful song done by Shirley Collins - in the space of that past year I have come across performances both this CD and an earlier version by Ewan MacColl. All are very satisfying , in their different ways.

CD-Charts Position 5
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The Imagined Village

by: Various Artists

Release Date October 15, 2007
I think this is probably a great album and certainly a sterling effort to bring together a range of influences both old and new to fuse a new UK folk perspective. The first talking bit sounds like Stanley Unwin on that Small faces album though and it can get just a little bit self indulgent - Hopefully like me though it will inspire you to re look at the rich heritage of traditional music this country has to offer

CD-Charts Position 6
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Awkward Annie

by: Kate Rusby

Release Date September 03, 2007
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 ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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The Girl Who Couldn't Fly

by: Kate Rusby

Release Date November 05, 2007
Kate Rusby is a treat and possibly the most unsung performer in the UK. I own hundreds of CDs and very few of them continue to move me like "The Girl Who Couldn't Fly". From the teasing, light-hearted rhyme of `Mary Blaize' to the haunting simplicity of `Fare Thee Well', this album is a treat for the ears and a journey for the emotions. 'No Names' is the ultimate highlight for me, specifically because of Roddy Woomble's fantastic contribution. The vast space between Kate and Roddy's tones serves only to add to the bittersweet parting message that the song contains. This is a wonderful album that deserves much wider critical aclaim than it has received so far.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Poor Man's Heaven

by: Seth Lakeman

Release Date June 30, 2008
Well, album number 4 from Seth Lakeman finds him backed by a major label. Not good news for someone who's used to recording albums in kitchens. So, it was with some scepticism that I listened to Poor Man's Heaven and it was to say the least, a huge letdown. For a start, I don't personally LIKE the songs. They are bland to the extreme, and as several reviewers have already noted, mostly at the same tempo. Did his metronome break or something? Not good. On the plus side, I do like Crimson Dawn and Solomon Browne. The latter is a slightly obscure subject but is poignant and comes across well, despite sounding cluttered - a sparser sound may have suited it better and let the lyrics breathe a little.

To me it all sounds far too mainstream orientated, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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The Definitive Collection

by: Watersons

Release Date October 06, 2003
Mike Waterson and his two sisters, Norma and Elaine (known as Lal), originally formed the group together with a cousin, John Harrison. The group disbanded in 1966 but re-formed in 1972 with Bernie Vickers replacing John. After recording one album, Martin Carthy replaced Bernie. Martin remained a member of Steeleye Span and soon married Norma, their marriage producing Eliza Carthy, who eventually became a major star of the British folk scene.

The members of the group worked on various albums together, separately and with other folk singers. Although this does not contain any of Martin's music with Steeleye Span (easily obtained elsewhere), it includes some recordings by Waterson-Carthy (Martin, Norma and Eliza) and Blue Murder (Mike, Martin, Norma, Eliza ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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The Definitive Collection

by: Martin Carthy

Release Date February 24, 2003
Mike Waterson and his two sisters, Norma and Elaine (known as Lal), originally formed the group together with a cousin, John Harrison. The group disbanded in 1966 but re-formed in 1972 with Bernie Vickers replacing John. After recording one album, Martin Carthy replaced Bernie. Martin remained a member of Steeleye Span and soon married Norma, their marriage producing Eliza Carthy, who eventually became a major star of the British folk scene.

The members of the group worked on various albums together, separately and with other folk singers. Although this does not contain any of Martin's music with Steeleye Span (easily obtained elsewhere), it includes some recordings by Waterson-Carthy (Martin, Norma and Eliza) and Blue Murder (Mike, Martin, Norma, Eliza ... Read More: