All That Is

Garnet Rogers (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Red House
• ASIN: B000068PZU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,471 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He'll become a habit, you'll see..., November 10, 2003

By 

Evelyn Wolke "BRKyle" (Manassas, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All That Is (Audio CD)

Okay, so, I'm a fan. Maybe even a rabid one.

I first saw Garnet Rogers (mumbledy-mumble) years ago, with his brother (do the math, kids, I'm an old lady). He had more hair then (so did I), but he was still a hell of a musician and a sweet guy, and remains both to this day. I've loved his music since I first heard his solo recordings on a local folk show here in the area and saw him play shortly thereafter. I go to see him whenever he's in town, and recommend that you do the same. I was delighted to see that he had released this compilation to be distributed in the United States. It contains many of his best songs, though certainly not all of my favorites.

The musicianship is impeccable. Rogers' voice resembles nothing so much as dark buckwheat honey; his accompaniments are lovely and thoughtful, and he's an accomplished guitarist. He also plays the flute and other strings. His lyrics sometimes touch the heart to tears, but often sparkle with humor. Listen to "Under the Summer Moonlight", which is about his aunt and uncle -- who still love to dance together after 50+ years.

That being said, Rogers is a man of deep convictions, and it's easy to understand that from the words and the music you hear. From the first acoustic notes of "Next Turn of the Wheel" -- about spending summers in his grandparents' home and seeing the whole Maritime way of life die -- to the last Rickenbacker feedback echoes of "Seeds of Hope", which has (deservedly) made its way into a few hymnals, the songs all have a message of triumph over the sometimes harsh and bitter lives of the characters who inhabit them. I always root for the old mare in "Small Victory", even though I've heard the song more times than I can count. I always have tears when I hear his powerful memorial to his brother Stan, "Night Drive", as I hear the raucous chords of his Telecaster, the digital delay making the sound of the heartbeat that unites us all, wishing that we'd told a lost loved one we loved them more often, and "shown (them) better".

Rogers has called his variety of music "loud folk", and if you're in the market for flailing acoustic depressive navel-gazing you've definitely come to the wrong place. What you have here is a man who has grown into the grace and courage to say "Love is all that is, and all that ever was" -- and make it the title of this compilation of some of his best. Buy it. You won't be disappointed. If you like this, get to one of his concerts and then buy the rest of his albums. You will become addicted.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blew Me Away, December 23, 2002

By 

Dennis Stephens "seberg99" (Champlin, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All That Is (Audio CD)

I was familiar with Stan Rogers' work, and fell upon this by hitting a link for Garnet on the page with Stan's CDs. I listened on-line a little, bought, and am just amazed at how good this is.

Songs like "Small Victory" tell stories of triumph of will. "Night Drive" catches the the mood of a long night drive and missing someone perfectly. "Frankie and Johnny" is a hearfelt song about the angst and jealosy between brothers, and only through the death of one does the other get to know the brother and himself better.

This is a great CD from an artist that is long neglected on this side of the Canadian border. Rogers is also a fine guitarist.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great music!, September 15, 2002

By 

Alan Newman (Lake Havasu City, Az United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All That Is (Audio CD)

I'm enjoying this cd as much as his brother's music, which is saying a lot. I had no idea Garnet had such a good voice. I particularly like "next turn of the wheel" and "night drive", both long songs that go by too quickly. They are poems with excellent singing and accompanying music. I'll be trying to buy the various albums these songs come from, and I highly recommend this album to anyone who likes this sort of music enough to end up reading this review.