Customer Reviews

Balin

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

Fred reminds me of my childhood on the southside of Dublin, TX. We had a lot of nothing to live on... I am doing well now as an adult, but Fred brings where I came from back to the forefront of my mind. Its like home is here.

Balin' is a lyrical and musical masterpiece. I'm listening to Dusty right now, and its a little different, but its not letting me down. Is there such a thing as a bad Eaglesmith album? No.

When I get back from Iraq in Jan 06, I am going to the nearest Eaglesmith show for my welcome back party.

An extraordinary album from start to finish. Touching and funny, Fred Eaglesmith once again makes a legitimate claim to being the best song-writer on the planet. The album, recorded in a couple of days under less than pristine conditions is, like Fred himself, all the more appealing for it's imperfections. Keep them coming.

How come Amazon only sells three of Fred's nearly dozen albums?

Let me say first that I am a HUGE fan of Fred Eaglesmith, and own the majority of his CDs. BALIN is is not only the best of HIS CDs that I have heard, but quite simply one of the very best CDs I have heard period. As Eaglesmith fans already know, he writes and plays a in a number of different styles. This is totally a bluegrass CD and contains some of the most beautiful songs he has written, which is saying a lot, featuring his always honest lyrics about the lives of real people. Fred's singing is great as always; and the harmonies, featuring the unbelievably soulful Willie P. Bennett, are simply gorgeous. I was going to mention some of my favorites, but I really can't choose because there is not a bad song on here. I have a lot of music, and usually after I listen to even a great CD 3 or 4 times, I give it a rest. I have been listening to BALIN going on 3 straight weeks now and see no end in sight. If you have never heard Fred Eaglesmith and you like bluegrass music along with beautiful and original songs, BALIN is a great place to start.

If I didn't like Fred Eaglesmith's music so much I'd have to say that this was his best CD ever. I can't say that because I haven't heard the next one he's going to put out yet. This one is excellent. If you only buy it for the song John Deere B it would probably be fine. Great music from a great singer-songwriter.

Fred is at the top of his pickin' game on this record. The grass is blue on this one, and Fred's turn of phrase and trademark voice make this a great record to play while sitting in the rocking chair on the porch watching your neighors head off to work.

I LOVE Fred. I think his live album "Ralph's Last Show" is one of my favorite albums and I play it constantly. Trying to build my collection of Fred's music I bought this one.

Perhaps I should have read the reviews more closely I wouldn't have bought this album. But, I did.

So, if you've seen him live and you love his hard-drivin style (49 tons of diesel locomotive couldn't drag me back to you!) you will be disappointed in this album. But, if you're a real bluegrass fan and want to hear Fred's more rootsy side, then you probably will like it.

That said, I can't wait to see Fred again live.

I saw Fred live in Cleveland, OH and he played quite a few songs off this album and Fred blem me away. Fred is an underappreciated talent and this is an album that you should own. In fact buy all of his stuf. The only way you won't like this album is if you have no taste.