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Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook, Vol. 1
Participated by Various Artists
Studio : Old Town School
by Old Town School
Release Date : 2006-10-24
Publisher : Old Town School
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
EAN : 0744302050126
UPC : 744302050126
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 3 reviews)
List Price : $15.98
Our Price : $10.09
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Americancivilwar.com |
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Since 1957, Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music has served as a catalyst for folk's progression and preservation, attracting students who would go on to greater glories (such as the Byrds' Jim--later Roger--McGuinn) and providing an intimate performing space for a wide range of artists. On the verge of its 50th anniversary, the School has enlisted instructors and some higher-profile kindred spirits, including the Mekons' Jon Langford, Freakwater's Janet Bean, Wilco's John Stirratt, and the Bad Livers' Danny Barnes, to perform a generous selection of 23 folk standards. Many of these are well-known and all have long stories (documented in the accompanying booklet), but they hold up well and a new generation does them proud. There's rarely a dropoff in quality from the better-known recording artists to the instructors, though a couple of the latter treat the material with a reverence that borders on sterility. Among the liberties taken, Elaine Moore brings a ragtime twist to the spiritual "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," Bill Brickey delivers an uptempo, syncopated "Down in the Valley," and Dan Zanes and band inject some reggae toasting into "Drunken Sailor." The music is acoustic but rarely solo, with supporting instrumentation and harmonies adding to the communal, hootenanny spirit. --Don McLeese |
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Very well recorded |
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You'll have to decide for yourself whether you like this kind of music. It's acoustic, which I liked, but I did not like some of the arrangements/performances. What I really did like is the (important) fact that this CD is unusually well recorded. In that sense, at least, this is a very nice CD. |
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This is really nice stuff! |
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I just listened to this CD not expecting to like it but I did. These are traditional pieces are innovative, exciting and enjoyable. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to listen to folk music done well. I don't know any of the artists but, they are talented and understand the genre. |
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Real-deal folk music, filtered through a hip, modern perspective |
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A charming, earnest, open-mikey set from the graduates of Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, a cultural institution apparently founded in 1957 and now about to celebrate its 50th anniversary... The strongest tracks on here are from well-known "ringers," folks like Danny Barnes (of the Bad Livers), Freakwater's Janet Bean, alt-country auteur Robbie Fulks and Waco Brothers frontman Jon Langford... Standout tracks include a barebones "Shady Grove" from a fellow named Colby Maddox, and "Salty Dog" by Rick Sherry... Dan Zanes also makes an appearance with a loosey-goosey version of "Drunken Sailor..." Many of the songs on here really are like listening to a friend of yours warbling away at a coffeehouse open-mic night, which is exactly as it should be: that's the whole point of folk music, right? As DIY as ya wanna be. |
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