| Awkward Annie | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 6 reviews)
Sales Rank: 2219
Category: Music
Artist: Kate Rusby
Publisher: PURE
Studio: PURE
Manufacturer: PURE
Label: PURE
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
EAN: 5060066680061
ASIN: B000TKODDQ
Release Date: April 15, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Awkward Annie | | • | Bitter Boy | | • | John Barbury | | • | High On a Hill | | • | Farewell | | • | Planets | | • | The Old Man | | • | Andrew Lammie | | • | Streams of Nancy | | • | Daughter of Heaven | | • | Blooming Heather | | • | The Village Green Preservation Society |
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Album Description
2007 album from the UK's most popular female Folk artist, her seventh album overall. Features guest appearances from Eddi Reader, Ian Carr, John McKusker, Leon Hunt and others. Pure.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 (4.5 STARS) THIS YORKSHIRE LASS WILL TRANSPORT YOU TO THE ELYSIAN FIELDS OF ENGLISH (AND SCOTTISH) FOLK MUSIC June 30, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I'm familiar with some of Kate Rusby's earlier music because she gets airplay, from time to time, on BBC radio folk music programmes - but this is her only album that I have. 'Awkward Annie' seems to follow an established pattern - a seamless mix of self-penned original songs and traditional songs from the British Isles.
THE VOCALS : KR's voice is difficult to describe (but I'll try). If you took away the American accent and country twang from Dolly Parton's vocals, and replaced it with a decidedly Yorkshire-English accent, you'd get something which comes close to KR's vocal style (listen to how she pronounces words like 'come', 'money', or 'love'). Depending upon the song, her vocals oscillate between dainty delicacy and haunting poignancy. As with Sandy Denny, her voice has an innate quality to make clocks stand still; even though Kate's alto is higher up the scale than Sandy's, I think she sings with a little more warmth. Sandy Denny had folk vibrato 'down to a fine art' and KR also uses this technique, but not quite as frequently; and, when the song demands it, KR adds a touch of understated humour to her delivery. Three songs feature some outstanding harmony vocals courtesy of Joe Rusby, Eddi Reader and Chris Thile (ex. Nickel Creek). 'Blooming Heather' ('Wild Mountain Thyme') includes vocals from operatic tenor John Hudson - you'll have to decide for yourself about the inclusion of his vocals, but I thought they sounded rather out of place.
THE SONGS : Some are melancholic, with a few conveying a real sense of loss. However, there are three or four songs with a much lighter and/or humorous mood. Many songs have a distinct 'English' character, but 'John Barbury' (var. 'Willie O Winsbury'), 'Andrew Lammie' and 'Blooming Heather' are traditional Scottish songs; whilst 'High On The Hill' has a Bluegrass influence. The second half of the album contains a couple of real 'tear jerkers' - 'Andrew Lammie' and 'Daughter of Heaven'.
THE PLAYING : The playing by the session and guest musicians is nothing short of exemplary. Instruments featured include : acoustic guitars, banjo, violins and several other stringed instruments, piano and harmonium, accordion, flute and traditional brass band instruments. The music is, essentially, semi-acoustic - only one track has electric guitar and only one other has percussion. Many songs have short instrumental bridges (something which I haven't noticed with KR's earlier music); notable performances come from, amongst others, Ian Carr (guitar), Chris Thile (mandolin), Leon Hunt/Andy Seward (banjo) and Donald Shaw (piano & harmonium) - also, John McCusker's continuing influence should not be overlooked.
Highlights for me were : 'Awkward Annie' and 'High On a Hill' - both up-tempo songs with lilting melodies and fine playing (and some super harmony vocals on the latter); 'The Bitter Boy' and 'Daughter of Heaven' -two haunting songs with poignant lyrics; 'John Barbury' - a traditional song featuring some beautiful piano and flute playing; 'The Old Man' - I liked this song for it's humour, it's about an accident prone farmer whose animals ('Tidy the Cow', 'the littlest pigs', and the 'speckledy hen') seemingly conspire to give him a hard time.
This is a fine album indeed. Although the music/production has a contemporary veneer, it is still very much folk music in a neo-traditional style - it isn't folk-rock, so don't expect something along the lines of Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span. It's easy to understand why other reviewers give 'Awkward Annie' 5 stars; but, purely from a subjective point of view, I feel the album's balance would have benefitted from the inclusion of a couple more songs with a lighter mood. Additionally, I thought the harmony vocals were exceptionally good, and a little more of these would have lent some extra texture to the music. Nevertheless, highly recommended for all lovers of British folk music; fans of Sandy Denny and The Wailin' Jennys might want to 'give this a twirl' also - 4.5 stars.
If you've once heard her voice, you will never forget it May 21, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Kate Rusby is one of the foremost musicians in the English-Celtic Traditional Folk group. If you've once heard her light, feathery voice, you won't forget her. It's light as a feather, but with the subtle tremolo that can send a listener soaring with joy or to the tissue box to wipe away a tear or two. From reading the liner notes, it appears Ms. Rusby's been through some tough times and that may be reflected in the selection of traditionals and composition of original music chosen here, particularly "Daughter of Heaven" and "Bitter Boy."
This collection of 12 songs, which runs about 52 minutes, includes four of Rusby's own compositions. They are "Awkward Annie", "The Bitter Boy", "High on a Hill", and "Planets". What amazes me about Rusby's own writing is the strong traditional sentiment. You can listen to "High on a Hill" right next to "Blooming Heather" (more commonly known as "Wild Mountain Thyme") and not realize that one of the songs was written today.
The remaining traditionals feature Rusby's arrangements, which are subtle and graceful. I've heard "Wild Mountain Thyme" from a wide variety of performers, both live and recorded and her "Blooming Heather" is one of the most beautiful.
My favorites from this CD have changed every time I listen to it. "Blooming Heather", "Daughter of Heaven" and "Planets" are the three selections that have gotten the most repeats so far, but that can change as times do.
Kate Rusby's a soothing companion on a day you just need to kick back with a cat or two in your lap and a cup of tea. If you're not familiar with traditional folk, she's a great artist to begin with. If you are, you will appreciate her elegant and evocative treatment of your old favorites.
Rebecca Kyle, May 2008
Another Beautiful CD April 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Kate Rusby has a beautiful voice. She has a way of picking and arranging beautiful songs. She has a great way of finding some of the lesser known traditional songs. This CD is full of beautiful melodies. I have been a fan of hers for about 10 years and this is one of her best CDs.
My favorite! November 18, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is my favorite of all the Kate Rusby albums. I love them all. I had the wonderful priviledge of seeing Kate perform live when we lived in England. What a treat. Can't wait for the next album. She just gets better and better!
"She's gone to a new place now" September 29, 2007
19 out of 19 found this review helpful
"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.
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