Best Contemporary Folk
On their Alison Krauss-produced debut, they serve up a lilting, ethereal fusion of bluegrass, Celtic, modern folk, and even classical influences, offering exquisite harmonies that would be more at home at a Crosby, Stills & Nash tribute than at a musical salute to the late Bill Monroe . The three prodigies (joined by Thile's dad, Scott, on bass) really strut their eclectic hot licks on a few soaring, skittering instrumentals, but even more impressive are Nickel Creek's graceful, heartfelt harmonies on the many lovely ballads.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love their youthful exuberance and awesome musicality."
"great item Fast Delivery as described."
"This group is one of the best!"
"The unique blending of Bluegrass, Celtic, & country tones lends this album an almost cozy at home feeling. Chris Thile really invites the passion of the past with his mandolin, his vocals, & his toe tapping "go get 'em" manner in the way he plays & sings! With this trio of musicians singing their love of life into their songs how can we not understand the drive that keeps them putting out music."
"I am a fan of folk music, classic rock, and some blue grass, but mostly a classical music fan (as well as classical musician) and would surely never consider myself a fan of country."
"My favorites are The Fox (fun and footapping), When You Come Back Down (gorgeous lyrics sung beautifully), Afton (lyrical and lush), The Lighthouse's Tale (beautiful and sad), and Out of the Woods (hopeful and a pleasure to listen to with blended vocals)."
This incarnation of the Foggy Mountain Boys includes Dobro whiz Josh Graves and fiddle master Paul Warren, and the exciting music blends exquisite picking, exuberant harmonies, and a touch of playfulness.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My first copy began skipping so I bought this again, because I'm a banjo player and this has to be in my music library."
"Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs play at their best in this 1962 album / cd favorite."
"It has to be one of the best bluegrass records."
"As others have noted, this is Lester and Earl at the top of their craft backed by the Foggy Mountain Boys, some of the finest players around at the time."
"Anyone who remembers Flatt and Scruggs especially remembers this recording."
""Durham's Reel", "Big Ball in Brooklyn", "Hot Corn, Cold Corn" & "Footprints in the Snow" start out the first twelve with fine examples of Earl Scruggs spanking of the banjo and Lester Flatt's soulful singing."
"My 6 year old has a fascination with banjos and he asks to listen to this every time we're in the car."
Sean Watkins 's title cut achieves the sprightliest blend of traditional bluegrass instrumentation and contemporary pop craft, while the ruminative melancholy of "Hanging by a Thread" and "Green and Gray" sound as though Thile has been listening to a lot of Elliott Smith (and reading the published poetry of Jewel).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The other thing I noticed, and what initially drew me to this CD, is the technical ability of the players. They are not over-the-top players, but you can tell that these guys can really play their instruments, especially the mandolin player."
"I loved Nickel Creek's first release: incredible musicianship, beautiful arrangements, great songs, a total package that is rare in all the bland, commercialized music out today. Chris' most recent solo CD demonstrated his world-class musicianship and compositional skills, though his songs are off the beaten path enough (rhythmically and melodically) to throw off some listeners. Overall, the songs on this CD are less accessible and more demanding than on their debut; as with most music, the potential payoff for those who listen is much greater, though some may not like their new complexity and depth (particularly from a lyrical point of view). In short, their strengths are even greater than on their debut; I personally love to hear bands push themselves, and forgive the occasional rough spots because the peaks are so much higher than for those who play it safe."
"Bands have to grow up, just like everyone else, and these three kids are showing us they have what it takes. Who wants to listen to the same sound album after album?"
"love the beautiful music!"
"One of the best Albums I have ever listened to."
"One of my absolute favorite albums."
"I loved their self-titled album, and I really like quite a few tracks on this one too."
Best International Folk
Ancient carols, Renaissance rhythms and haunting medieval hymns bring to life images of desert landscapes, stone monasteries and the origins of Christmas. Maggie Sansone on hammered dulcimer with members of Ensemble Galilei: Marcia Diehl on recorder, bowed psaltery and pennywhistle; Jim Brooks on recorder and concertina; Sue Richards on Celtic harp; Carolyn Surrick on treble viola & bass viola da gamba; Bonnie Rideout on fiddle, Zan McLeod on cittern and guitar and Ben Harms on hand drums and tambourine.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Marvelous, so different from the usual."
"Love this period music."
"I saw Maggie Samson's several years ago."
"If one would like a change from the same old Christmas songs then this you will enjoy immensely!"
"some of the music was a bit much, but It is a different place and time."
"This is lovely and is just the sort of quiet instrumental music I've come to expect from Ensemble Galilei."
"Marvelous playing, fine selection of pieces...never too far from my rotation all fall & winter."
Best Traditional Folk
Includes Drunkard's Special Coley Jones; Peg and Awl Carolina Tar Heels; Frankie Mississippi John Hurt; Engine 143 Carter Family; Indian War Whoop Hoyt Ming & His Pep-Steppers; Newport Blues Cincinnati Jug Band; John the Revelator Blind Willie Johnson; Fifty Miles of Elbow Room Rev. McGee; Sugar Baby Dock Boggs; See That My Grave Is Kept Clean Blind Lemon Jefferson; The Lone Star Trail Ken Maynard, and many more! The Harry Smith Connection: A Live Tribute To The Anthology Of American Folk Music. Classic Maritime Music from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Smithsonian Folkways American Roots Collection. Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways. Classic Blues From Smithsonian Folkways. Folkways: The Original Vision See all Editorial Reviews.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The first time I played this, I felt somewhat let down, since it had such a massive online build-up and had been dubbed something like "the most important folk album in music history"--one that had influenced countless pop and rock musicians."
"Great gift."
"It is all it's cracked up to be."
"As much as I love Bob, I have to say that everything on this album is better than most of Bob's work."
"As someone in their mid sixties the folk music resurgence was very popular in my formative years."
"I have been waiting a long time to get this."
"What an unbelievable compilation of old musi; lyrics, history, original old "stuff" thoughout."
"this is simply the most astounding collection of music ever assembled."
Best Folk Rock
Rock's first great double-album and home to many of Dylan's finest songs: Rainy Day Women #12 & 35; Visions of Johanna; I Want You; Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again; Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat; Just Like a Woman; Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine), and the side-long epic Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The first time I heard "Everybody must get stoned," from "Rainy Day Women # 12 & # 35," I was at Lardano's Pizzeria in Peoria, Illinois, while attending Bradley University, having a pizza (what else?). Later, as I aged, I came to see it as a great Bob Dylan song ("I was so much older then; I'm younger than that now"). Just so, the album on which this song was located, "Blonde on Blonde." Part of a great run of Dylan albums, reflecting dramatic changes in his art, among which were "The Times They Are A-Changin'," "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan," "Subterranean Homesick Blues," and "Highway 61 Revisited" (perhaps one of the five best rock and roll albums ever made??). Some of the songs--"Rainy Day Women # 12 & # 35," "Pledging My Times," "Visions of Johanna," "One of Us Must Know," "I Want You," "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues again," "Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat," "Just Like a Woman," "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I Go Mine," "Temporary like Achilles," "Absolutely Sweet Marie," "4th Time Around," "Obviously 5 Believers," and "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands." "Visions of Johanna" is an elegiac song, poignant, very different from "Rainy Day Women."
"After enjoying reviewing Johnny Cash/Willie Nelson VH1 Storytellers yesterday ****, thought it would be fun to review one of Bob Dylan's seminal records "Blonde on Blonde." But I usually listen to tracks off it randomly not the album as a whole, so this will be fun. Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 -- The carnival rambunctiousness of everybody get stoned, as it's often known. Visions of Johanna -- One of Dylan's more underrated songs. Captures the wonderful, surreal spirit of this album. I just love the playfulness of Dylan's voice on this song. And "I want you, I want you, I want you, so bad" sounds like a trite line, but totally works. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again -- A song I don't listen to enough. Reminds me of one of my favorite Dylan songs "Ballad of a Thin Man." I don't mind him cheating on me, but I'd sure wish he'd take that off his head, you brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) -- A lot of long titles on this album. Absolutely Sweet Marie -- The playfulness and great melody is back. Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands -- Dylan is good at the long, storytelling song. There is a reason Bob Dylan is my all time 2nd favorite music performer to Johnny Cash. So many great songs on this record in ranking order (4 stars plus): Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, Just Like a Woman, Visions of Johanna, Absolutely Sweet Marie, I Want You, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again."
"This has to be in the top three although in saying that I also must add that Bob has at least 7 or 8 five star albums so add this to the very long list of master works."
""Everyone Must Get Stoned" brings it all back home!"
"Great CD."
"No Dylan fan should be without Blonde on Blonde."
Best General
Sting's "Fields of Gold" finally lives up to its title through the alchemy of Cassidy's transcendent rendition, while other tracks on this anthology showcase her ease in the realms of pop (Christine McVie's "Songbird"), soul ("People Get Ready"), gospel ("Wade on the Water"), and traditional standards ("Autumn Leaves" and "Over the Rainbow"). Framed by understated jazz and pop arrangements, Cassidy's clear, soulful voice and exquisite phrasing make her that rarest of vocalists whose interpretations are a complement to any song.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Heard of Eva Cassidy on NPR and thought she would sound great on phono."
"Voice of an angel."
"I was happy to find this CD."
"I needed music to illustrate a power point I was making as a gift. Immediately I thought of Eva Cassidy so I needed her CD."
"While I love Sting's version of 'Fields of Gold', I find Eva's compelling as well."
"I first heard of Eva Cassidy in a small quilting store in Syracuse Nebraska where my wife was shopping. The masterpieces of Beethoven and Brahms and the playing of Hilary Hahn are more my kind of stuff. The songs are so heartfelt, both the lyrics themselves and Eva's singing of them that I could not help but be drawn into the music. Her passion and expression makes the music sound as if she was singing directly to me and no one else."
"It was this beautiful song and voice and I googled the artist and came up with Eva Cassidy."
"Hauntingly beautiful!"
Best Singer Songwriters
Rock's first great double-album and home to many of Dylan's finest songs: Rainy Day Women #12 & 35; Visions of Johanna; I Want You; Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again; Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat; Just Like a Woman; Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine), and the side-long epic Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The first time I heard "Everybody must get stoned," from "Rainy Day Women # 12 & # 35," I was at Lardano's Pizzeria in Peoria, Illinois, while attending Bradley University, having a pizza (what else?). Later, as I aged, I came to see it as a great Bob Dylan song ("I was so much older then; I'm younger than that now"). Just so, the album on which this song was located, "Blonde on Blonde." Part of a great run of Dylan albums, reflecting dramatic changes in his art, among which were "The Times They Are A-Changin'," "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan," "Subterranean Homesick Blues," and "Highway 61 Revisited" (perhaps one of the five best rock and roll albums ever made??). Some of the songs--"Rainy Day Women # 12 & # 35," "Pledging My Times," "Visions of Johanna," "One of Us Must Know," "I Want You," "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues again," "Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat," "Just Like a Woman," "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I Go Mine," "Temporary like Achilles," "Absolutely Sweet Marie," "4th Time Around," "Obviously 5 Believers," and "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands." "Visions of Johanna" is an elegiac song, poignant, very different from "Rainy Day Women."
"After enjoying reviewing Johnny Cash/Willie Nelson VH1 Storytellers yesterday ****, thought it would be fun to review one of Bob Dylan's seminal records "Blonde on Blonde." But I usually listen to tracks off it randomly not the album as a whole, so this will be fun. Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 -- The carnival rambunctiousness of everybody get stoned, as it's often known. Visions of Johanna -- One of Dylan's more underrated songs. Captures the wonderful, surreal spirit of this album. I just love the playfulness of Dylan's voice on this song. And "I want you, I want you, I want you, so bad" sounds like a trite line, but totally works. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again -- A song I don't listen to enough. Reminds me of one of my favorite Dylan songs "Ballad of a Thin Man." I don't mind him cheating on me, but I'd sure wish he'd take that off his head, you brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) -- A lot of long titles on this album. Absolutely Sweet Marie -- The playfulness and great melody is back. Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands -- Dylan is good at the long, storytelling song. There is a reason Bob Dylan is my all time 2nd favorite music performer to Johnny Cash. So many great songs on this record in ranking order (4 stars plus): Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, Just Like a Woman, Visions of Johanna, Absolutely Sweet Marie, I Want You, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again."
"This has to be in the top three although in saying that I also must add that Bob has at least 7 or 8 five star albums so add this to the very long list of master works."
""Everyone Must Get Stoned" brings it all back home!"
"Great CD."
"No Dylan fan should be without Blonde on Blonde."
Best Native American
These beautiful emotional melodies are enhanced with whispering winds, gentle rains, distant thunder, babbling brooks, and birdsongs.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It has a well created tones and melody, it help with stress release, calms the mind and spirit would suggest it for any one who would need a break from all of todays noise and stresses."
"John Hulings music is wonderful to sit back and close your eyes and listen too."
"Beautiful music that I play in my car all the time and never tire of it."
"best cd ever great rythem kind of rntrancing."
"This is marvelous, haunting, beautiful music to relax to."
"This CD is exactly what the jacket says: "Native American flute music, gentle drums and the sounds of nature.""
"John, please go back to your basics and stay with the wonderful music you created in "Spiritlands" and "Return to Spirtlands.""
"Bought several Huling cd's."