Customer Reviews

Ancient Tones

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have always been a devoted follower of Ricky Skaggs. I think he has one of the best and purest voices in the business. I really thought this was an oustanding CD. He puts so much heart and soul into his singing and playing. The harmonies in the songs on this CD were fantastic. I'm a bit of a "traditionalist" too when it comes to bluegrass music so I enjoyed the Ricky's renditions of the old songs on this CD. Agreed, Ricky's accapella voice will bring tears to your eyes on "Little Bessie". I think the entire CD is a masterpiece, and I usually do not like every cut on a CD but this was an exception. I just hope Ricky keeps producing gems like Ancient Tones. I have yet to buy Bluegrass Rules so I know I'm in for a treat. I do have his bluegrass gospel CD "Soldier of the Cross" which rarely ever leaves my CD player.

The recording of "Little Bessie" is absolutely amazing and well worth the price of the whole CD. Skaggs is a true pure talent. His acappela vocals on Bessie will choke you up. The other songs are great as well, if not quite as inspiring. I agree with other reviewers that it would be nice to see Skaggs do more originals, but if these recordings expose a larger audience to the "righteous pathway" than more power to him. I felt the same way about "Rank Stranger" from his last CD as I do about "Little Bessie". You think you've heard these songs, but these renditions truly transcend.

Having traveled many miles going to bluegrass festivals in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, I have heard some great music. And the wonderful thing about the festivals, it doesn't have to be the headline stars that are so good, sometimes the "parking lot pickers" are just as enjoyable. But back to this, I love Ricky Skaggs, I love him for continuing to follow a narrow path that he has chosen in the music business. that takes a lot of guts, especially when all the glory goes to the hat acts.

Ricky Skaggs is a bluegrass master, and Kentucky Thunder, along with the Del McCoury Band, is as fine an ensemble as currently works in the genre. And Ancient Tones (great title) is a good album, with the occasional memorable moment. How you feel about it, however, ultimately depends on how much bluegrass you've already heard -- in other words, on how much you really want to hear Bill Monroe and Stanley Brothers warhorses yet again. This CD is full of them, all crisply executed but all too familiar. What Skaggs and his band need are new songs (even if they're old ones: traditional mountain ballads or neglected compositions from bluegrass' earlier days). To this longtime listener the high points -- high ones indeed -- are Jim Mills's "Coal Minin' Man," Billy Joe Foster's "Give Us Rain," and Skaggs's deeply felt version of the American folk song "Little Bessie," with lyrics few listeners will have heard before. If he had a CD full of material of this quality, he'd have the masterpiece this could have been. Maybe next time.

The title to this review really says it all. After being blown away by the majority of "Bluegrass Rules", I was a bit disappointed with this CD. Maybe that's because I'm more of a banjo fan than a mandolin fan. If you're the opposite & you prefer the mandolin & fiddle to the banjo & dobro, this is a good one for you. It's just not my cup of tea. My advice would be to pick up "Bluegrass Rules" NOW & "Ancient Tones" whenever you get a chance... no hurry. :-)

I've never listened to bluegrass as I am a rock-n-roll, heavy metal, and alternative listener (along with some occasional, really good blues). I saw a performance on the Conan O'Brien show by Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder doing "Walls of Time," and it absolutely blew me away! I figured if the rest of the CD was just half as good as that one tune I heard on the show, then I must buy it. I did buy it & I listen to it everyday on my way to and from work! When not in use, I keep it right next to my Metallica CD...go figure!

This cd is great. Every aspect is done in classic Ricky Skaggs perfectionist style. Songs that catch your ear are "Pig in a Pen" played at a supersonic speed, "Canemara" with some great solos all around, & "Little Bessie" that bends a harp into bluegrass mode with perfection. Ricky once again comes through with a stellar cast of performers including the return of an amazing young guitar player Bryan Sutton, Smilin' Jim Mills on banjo,& Bobby Hicks on fiddle. An interesting part of the liner notes tells of Bryan Sutton starting a solo career. That should be an interesting developement. The production of this cd is top quality with flawless fades and a sound that is way better than average for any label. This cd is a must for any country music fan or die hard drum- hating Bluegrass lover like myself.

Entire album is perfect. And. I couldn't wait to order several more for friends and family. "Little Bessie", its last track? I flat lost it. For any mama who has lost a child, this one'll do it. Thanks ever so, Mr. Skaggs.

My friend Kami chose this cd as a soundtrack for a drive through southern Ohio's back country. Every passenger was smiling and dancing to the fiddle and banjo. This cd is a tribute to the Irishmen who seetled in Appalachia. It took me back to the third grade when day after day I'd listen to Loretta Lynn's 'Coal Miner's Daughter.' By the end of the first song I was definitely wanting some fried potatoes and pinto beans. Ricky also sings a sweet song about the Savior, in addition to the others about mines and mountain girls.

'Ancient Tones' is yet another instant classic Bluegrass album from Ricky Skaggs, and a worthy follow-up to last year's best Bluegrass album 'Bluegrass Rules'. Fire and lightning from Ricky's ace band, Kentucky Thunder, and absolutely dead-on vocals make this an essential album for Bluegrassers. At times, the musicianship goes overboard - but that's half the fun of Bluegrass music. Parking lot pickers will be talking about Ricky's absolutely roasting hot "Pig in a Pen" for years to come.