Kate Rusby - Awkward Annie
List Price:
Our Price: $11.07
You Save: $6.91 (38%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $7.55 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Kate RusbyEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2008-04-15
Music Label: PURE
Soundtracks:
- 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
Music reviews of Awkward Annie
Music Review: (4.5 STARS) THIS YORKSHIRE LASS WILL TRANSPORT YOU TO THE ELYSIAN FIELDS OF ENGLISH (AND SCOTTISH) FOLK MUSIC
Rating: 4 Stars
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.
Description of Awkward Annie
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.Country CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Country CDs
Johnie Lewis - Alabama Slide GuitarRelease date: 1998-01-20; Music CD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
Lightnin Hopkins - Texas BluesRelease date: 1993-11-30; Music CD
Best price: $14.18
Price in other shops:
Lewis - LegendsRelease date: 1986-11-01; Music CD
Price in other shops:
![Hotel California [Vinyl] Image](/images/Hotel-California-Vinyl-B0000001D6-X.jpg)
Eagles - Hotel California [Vinyl]Release date: 1997-12-05; Music CD
Best price: $229.99
Ccr - Bayou CountryRelease date: 1993-06-18; Music CD
Best price: $70.35
Taj Mahal - Senor BluesRelease date: 1997-06-17; Music CD
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
Fonte VivaMusic CD
Frankie Miller - Blackland Farmer-Complete Starday Recordings & MorRelease date: 2008-02-05; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Taken By Surpriseby Red Hot Burritos
Published: 1992; Music CD
Christmas Joy: Solo Piano for the Holidaysby Deborah Offenhauser
Pba Music Pub; Published: 2005-11-30; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $119.49
Similar CDs
Kate Rusby - While Mortals SleepRelease date: 2011-11-22; Music CD
Best price: $12.92
Price in other shops:
Kate Rusby - Live from LeedsWEA DES Moines Video; Release date: 2004-06-29; DVD
Best price: $11.25
Price in other shops:
Kate Rusby - HourglassRelease date: 1998-08-18; Music CD
Best price: $7.94
Price in other shops:
Kate Rusby - Underneath the StarsRelease date: 2004-01-13; Music CD
Best price: $11.33
Price in other shops:
Kate Rusby - SleeplessRelease date: 1999-08-17; Music CD
Best price: $11.35
Price in other shops:
Kate Rusby - Make The LightRelease date: 2010-11-23; Published: 2011-01-10; Music CD
Best price: $9.70
Price in other shops:
Kate Rusby - Little LightsRelease date: 2001-06-12; Music CD
Best price: $10.84
Price in other shops:
Kate Rusby - The Girl Who Couldn't FlyRelease date: 2005-10-11; Music CD
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops:
Kate Rusby - Sweet BellsRelease date: 2010-10-05; Music CD
Best price: $11.04
Price in other shops:
Kate Rusby - 10Release date: 2003-01-07; Music CD
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops: