Ain't No Grave: A Tribute To Traditional & Public Domain Songs

Various Artists (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 5, 2003)
• Original Release Date: August 5, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: dren records
• ASIN: B0000AN42P
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,405 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars carry it on, September 25, 2003

By 

Jerome Clark (Canby, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ain't No Grave: A Tribute To Traditional & Public Domain Songs (Audio CD)

The great English traditional singer Martin Carthy once remarked that the only harm you can do to the old ballads is not to sing them. In other words, don't worry about whether the presentation answers to some misguided -- and largely meaningless -- notion of "authenticity"; just do the song in a way that makes sense to you and works as musical art. The cover of this fine CD has an electric guitar propped up against a weathered gravestone, perfectly symbolizing what you're going to find here: except for the Scottish "McPherson's Lament," venerable American folk songs rocked up or otherwise modernized. Well, not entirely -- Tim Eriksen's aching "Southern Girl's Reply," a statement of Confederate defiance caught between hopeless anger and life-deadening sorrow, practically defines musical time travel.

Otherwise, these are richly reimagined adaptations, the worst of which are merely enjoyable and the best of which grab you by the throat and shake you. Among the latter, there is the wrenching Civil War-era "Is the Battle Over?" (Sixty Acres), almost like an outtake from the Byrds' classic country-folk album Sweethearts of the Rodeo. There's also the Plaster Saints' electrified spiritual "John the Revelator," which opens the proceedings. And then there's Timothy the Revelator, who does a nice "Box the Fox" in an updated old-timey arrangement. Listen to "Riding in the Buggy, Mary Jane," done here by the Lisa Marr Experiment, and then hunt up Bob Dylan's "Tryin' to Get to Heaven" (on his Time Out of Mind CD), and you'll find out where some of those lyrics come from. What is the tradition good for, after all, if not for looting?

Ain't No Grave proves that you can't bury these wonderful old songs. There's just too much life in them. It's a joy to hear young musicians carrying on the tradition with such intelligence, sensitivity, and imagination. By the way, this really ought to be four and a half stars, except that Amazon.com doesn't let you do that.

31 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, March 16, 2004

By 

G. Sawaged - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ain't No Grave: A Tribute To Traditional & Public Domain Songs (Audio CD)

I could never have imagined in a million years that a compilation of old traditional and Public Domain songs could be so entertaining and catchy and modern sounding. This cd has fast become one of my all-time favourites. These songs have come alive once more for a new generation. It just goes to show that good songs never die. This is a cd that should be in everyone's collection.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Other Great Albums, June 7, 2005

By 

Sven Carlsson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ain't No Grave: A Tribute To Traditional & Public Domain Songs (Audio CD)

I am a big fan of roots music. This album is a fantastic treat that consistently delivers great music, song after song. If you enjoy this album and are looking for some similar great roots albums then I recommend the following:
1) Appalachian Stomp: Bluegrass Classics
2) Avalon Blues by Mississippi John Hurt
3) March 16-20 by Uncle Tupelo
4) Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs Of Stephen Foster
5) Every Sound Below by Tim Eriksen