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34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"She's gone to a new place now.", 29 Sep 2007
"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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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The most under-rated female singer songwriter we have, 13 Oct 2007
She's lovely is Kate Rusby ...don't you think? I guess the fact you are on this page reading this sort of answers the question but you know...the points worth making anyway. She sings ....well that's what she does .Pure gorgeous cut glass vocals with no screeching , hyperventilating or warbling , just proper gliding vocals . Listening to Kate is always an absolute treat. She writes good songs as well .Five of the tracks on this album are written by Kate -the others are her usual impeccable arrangements of traditional songs -and while you will never be surprised by a Kate Rusby album that's sort of the point. She can always be relied upon to compose quality music within a specific genre (folk in case you haven't been paying attention) and has been doing this for some time now.
Awkward Annie is her seventh solo album and the first self produced effort ( Joe helped it says on the back cover) after the split from husband/producer John McCusker( Who still plays on the album ) .The usual mix of tender ballads and mildly quirky numbers are embellished sometimes by strings ,sometimes brass , even banjo on "Planets" and mandolin on "The Old Man" while guest vocalists Chris Thile and Eddie Reader pop up on "High On A Hill" and "Daughter Of Heaven". John Hudson adds operatic backing on a stunning arrangement of the traditional "Blooming Heather". "Bonus track" a cover of the Kinks "The Village Green Preservation Society " recorded for the BBC,s "Jam And Jerusalem" series is the nearest I have heard Kate hop genres , apart from the duet with Ronan Keating.
The album notes state that "For many reasons this record has been immensely tough to make" and it shows for this is a more persuasively melancholic album than Kate has made before . This is especially true in tracks like the lament to someone who has gone "Daughter Of Heaven " or the poignant " The Bitter Boy". Whatever trauma or difficulties inscribed them selves onto "Awkward Annie " it has aided in the making of another terrific Kate Rusby album and while there is nothing quite as magnificent as my favourite Kate Rusby song -"All Gods Angels " from "Sleepless" - there is no dreary wadding either. Yes she,.s lovely is Kate and more importantly I suppose she is one this country's most talented singer songwriters and an inexplicably under appreciated one at that.
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75 of 80 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Getting better and better, 31 Jul 2007
I was lucky enough to see Kate Rusby at the Cambridge Folk Festival, where she was selling advance copies of this, her latest, album.
As before, it is a mix of traditional folk stories and new songs. All are excellently performed allowing Kate's northern style to shine though. As with previous albums she is joined by a wide range of other musicians and incorporates bass and strings, and is even joined by Chris Thile (formerly of Nickle Creek) on "The Old Man". The album is finished by the soundtrack song from the BBC program Jam and Jerusalem.
A must buy for all Kate Rusby fans - and an excellent example of current folk music.
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