Marcel
09-04-2005, 05:42 AM
I'll translate them for you, because I think my English is better than your Dutch ;)
Let's hope these will translate in some sales! And hopefully one or more shows.
http://www.altcountry.nl/recensiesaug05.html#ncreek
4 horsies out of 5!
What a pleasant surprise is WSTFD. To be honest, I was a bit prejudiced, but upon listening that all went away. The image of spoiled childstars playing dreary bluegrass, depending just on their technical ability is totally unfounded. For starters, they're not kids anymore. <...>. In the new No Depression is a lovely picture from 1991, with dad Scott Thile backing the kids up with his double bass. They don't look spoiled, even though they all wear a nice cowboyhat. But there's no glamour at all in the open air, where they're doing a show. These kids have had the fortune to have supporting parents, and they found their own way on their own terms. Dreary bluegrass is nowhere to be found on WSTFD. There isn't even pure bluegrass. NC has made a mature piece of work with excellent playing and exciting compositions with great diversity. Once in a while it has the allure of (classical) chambermusic, but in Helena they try to rock out. In that song they use drums for the first time.<...>. In Can't Complain, Chris sounds very sweet at first, but then it changes into grunge. Best song is Eveline, with vocals and instruments intertwining into each other. Three songwriters, three singers, three virtuosos. With taste and urge to go into new directions. Awesome. (The last two words can't really be translated into English.)
http://www.plato.nl/plato/nieuws050805/p2.html
In the Netherlands progressive bluegrass doesn't raise many eyebrows. In most cases, that's quite alright, but there are a few bands that should earn some appreciation here. NC is such a band. The band with genius Chris Thile (listen to his solo album from last year) have made two excellent cd's. Cd's that sold quite a few copies in the US, but have gone unnoticed over here. And that could change with this album, because for this album producer Alison Krauss was swapped for Eric Valentine, who produced QOTSA. That doesn't mean that NC leaves progressive bluegrass behind them, but WSTFD sounds just a tad less traditional than its predecessor (even though they covered Pavement on that one). What remains are the high quality of the songs, the instrumental virtuosity and the fantastic voices, of which Sara Watkins' is enchantingly beautiful. Just like the two previous albums is this another recommendation voor everybody who loves modern-style bluegrass.
Let's hope these will translate in some sales! And hopefully one or more shows.
http://www.altcountry.nl/recensiesaug05.html#ncreek
4 horsies out of 5!
What a pleasant surprise is WSTFD. To be honest, I was a bit prejudiced, but upon listening that all went away. The image of spoiled childstars playing dreary bluegrass, depending just on their technical ability is totally unfounded. For starters, they're not kids anymore. <...>. In the new No Depression is a lovely picture from 1991, with dad Scott Thile backing the kids up with his double bass. They don't look spoiled, even though they all wear a nice cowboyhat. But there's no glamour at all in the open air, where they're doing a show. These kids have had the fortune to have supporting parents, and they found their own way on their own terms. Dreary bluegrass is nowhere to be found on WSTFD. There isn't even pure bluegrass. NC has made a mature piece of work with excellent playing and exciting compositions with great diversity. Once in a while it has the allure of (classical) chambermusic, but in Helena they try to rock out. In that song they use drums for the first time.<...>. In Can't Complain, Chris sounds very sweet at first, but then it changes into grunge. Best song is Eveline, with vocals and instruments intertwining into each other. Three songwriters, three singers, three virtuosos. With taste and urge to go into new directions. Awesome. (The last two words can't really be translated into English.)
http://www.plato.nl/plato/nieuws050805/p2.html
In the Netherlands progressive bluegrass doesn't raise many eyebrows. In most cases, that's quite alright, but there are a few bands that should earn some appreciation here. NC is such a band. The band with genius Chris Thile (listen to his solo album from last year) have made two excellent cd's. Cd's that sold quite a few copies in the US, but have gone unnoticed over here. And that could change with this album, because for this album producer Alison Krauss was swapped for Eric Valentine, who produced QOTSA. That doesn't mean that NC leaves progressive bluegrass behind them, but WSTFD sounds just a tad less traditional than its predecessor (even though they covered Pavement on that one). What remains are the high quality of the songs, the instrumental virtuosity and the fantastic voices, of which Sara Watkins' is enchantingly beautiful. Just like the two previous albums is this another recommendation voor everybody who loves modern-style bluegrass.