Balin

Fred Eaglesmith | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Aml Records
• ASIN: B00009VGJV
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,926 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars O Brother Fred, January 3, 2004

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Balin (Audio CD)

Fred's bluegrass effort "Balin'" is another exquisite disc in Fred's very strong catalogue. From the a cappella opener "The Building," we know we're in for a great down home roots treat. "Do You Love Me Now" is a classic, with Fred's catchy chorus giving a failed love affair a sense of irony. "Baling Again" is a touching remembrance of a daddy gone on. "Bring your money & bring your gun; if you got any rotgut, bring it along," Fred sings on the loping "Rooster Fight." It's rare to have tracks at a minute & a half these days; so "A Little Lost" breezes by with the Flathead Noodler's great harmonies. "Run-a-way Love" is a great country track that'd fit well on most of Fred's other recordings. John Allen's fiddle moans on the aching "Two Machines," "I changed the magneto & the wire, but it won't go no matter how I try." "The Rocket" is an aching track from an old man's point of view that enjoys watching the trains. "John Deere B" is another sad country weeper about a great old tractor relegated to a restaurant decoration. "No Sorrow No More" sounds like it was sung in a Baptist Church in the 1930's. "Tin Pot Nelly" is classic Eaglesmith creating great musical drama from sparse lyrical touches, "There's a picture on the wall when momma was pretty; she had new clothes and she had nice things." Country is as country as country can be on "I Shot Your Dog." "Some Roads" boasts a gorgeous melody on a great outlaw track, "I'm going to turn myself in today; she'll be crying by the scaffold when the hangman calls my name." Fred Eaglesmith is one of Canada's great musicians. This set combines bluegrass touches with sparse acoustic country arrangements. There are no weak tracks. You don't want to miss this great set! Enjoy!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to his roots, November 29, 2003

By 

Bt "Cat." (Parts unknown) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Balin (Audio CD)

First off, let me tell you that "Balin" is different. Fred goes back to his folk/bluegrass roots sound on this one. If you're familiar with his first five or six releases (which are tough to get in the states these days), you'll know what I mean. I believe this is as good, if not better, than any of his rootsy discs. Fred sings about real issues and real people, and you'll get a kick out of some the topics he covers on this one. A great sense of humour and some heartbreaking tunes make this one of this year's best.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Master Storyteller Speaks, March 18, 2004

By 

J. Kelly "Jim Kelly" (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Balin (Audio CD)

When I first listened to James King's version of the Fred Eaglesmith song "Thirty Years of Farming", I knew that there had to be something more to this Eaglesmith guy. So I got "Balin", which has to be one of the classic pieces of storytelling on any CD anywhere by anyone.

Every cut is a masterpiece; from "The Building" through "Mary Lane" with "The Rocket", "John Deere 'B'", "I Shot Your Dog", and "Small Motors" along the way. There's just not a weak cut or filler anywhere on this CD. The sound; guitar, clawhammer banjo, five string banjo, dobro and fiddle, along with Eaglesmith's solid vocals is perfect and fits the material to a T.

This is truly a must have for anyone who appreciates a great story, well told, in songs.