Customer Reviews

Collection (Enhanced)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A friend of mine at work knew of my love for good folk music and gave me a copy of this CD for my birthday. All I can say is that I'm glad she did! This is an absolutely lovely compilation of some of the best modern eclectic folk that I've ever heard. Though my tastes in folk music definately run toward the ethnomusicological/authentic, I have to make exceptions for groups as lovely as this.

The Rankin Family hails from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. On of the most far-flung of Gaelic speaking areas, Cape Breton has kept pure the traditions of their Scots ancestors, with a fair mix of North American folk and sea chantey traditions. The Rankin Family is steeped in these traditions, singing ancient songs in Gaelic, with a beautiful choral blend. The men in the group are also excellent instrumentalists...the late John Rankin's fiddle playing is wonderful in an authentic Gaelic style.

But the Rankins are not just traditionalists. They also sing contemporary "celtic revival" songs and some things that have an almost country flair (not a fan of country myself, but this stuff is really good.) The songs reflect their love of Cape Breton and of the sea. I found myself haunted by so many of the tunes on this album.

And the singing is marvelous. The family is blessed with wonderful voices, particularly the women. The harmony is dense and absolutely pure. It reminds me of the best of family groups in the Appalachians and in Ireland. Highlights of the album include the lovely Gillis Mountain and Rise Again, which I can't stop listening to.

This is pure music, filled with love of people and land. There is a sweetness in the music that touches me deeply. If you like Clannad, Mary Black, or the McGarrigle Sisters, you will love this music. I can't recommend this album highly enough!

Ever since I passed through Mabou, the delightful little Nova Scotian hometown of the Rankins, I have been dying to buy one of their recordings, and boy am I glad it was this one. The powerful lyrics and harmonies beautifully express the hundreds of years of struggles that Cape Bretoner's experienced. "Roving Gypsy Boy" tells the all-too-familiar tale of an individual searching for his place in life, and "Rise Again" proudly boasts that "we" (Nova Scotians in the case of the Rankins) take back seat to nobody. The tale of a Cape Bretoner then continues with tracks like "Christy Campbell Medley," an arrangement which represents the good old fashion fiddling that many Bretoners use to relieve the stress after a long hard day's of work. The CD then concludes with a highly energized rendition of "The Mull River Shuffle," a piece which leaves the soul feeling refreshed. I am ecstatic to add this recording to my Celtic collection of more than 40 CDs, and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Sadly, I only learned of The Rankins upon hearing of the death of brother John Morris Rankin. I ordered "Collection" the next day and was not disappointed. The incredible sibling harmonies are mesmerizing and terribly addictive. I now wake up most mornings with Rankin melodies in my head.

One important note as yet unmentioned by other reviewers is that "Collection" is also a multimedia CD. Pop it in your PC or Mac and you get video clips, photos, history and sound clips from each song on the band's preceding albums. Very well done and a great bonus! I want all my CDs to be like this.

Linda Ronstadt once said that singing harmony could be done by any good singer, but that there is something very special, almost spiritual, when siblings sing harmony. It's not only in the talent and spirit, it's in the genetics.

She was speaking about the Everly Brothers but she might have been talking about The Rankins. They are special, indeed.

This family band from Mabou, Nova Scotia shows great virtuosity vocally and instrumentally in this album which blends some traditional Maritime music with Celtic and Country influences.

Jimmy Rankin is a great singer/songwriter and plays hot licks on guitar. Brother John Morris Rankin provides outstanding melody lines on piano and the occasional fiddle, too. And the family is augmented with a bunch of first rate players.

But, for the uninitiated, it is the three sisters - Cookie, Heather and the now-retired Raylene Rankin - with their bright, clear harmonies that will bring tears to the eyes. If you don't feel chills when you hear tunes like "Rise Again," "Roving Gypsy Boy," and the seminal "Gillis Mountain," then nothing is going to get to you. And "You Feel The Same Way Too" is as good a Saturday night kick-up-your-heals country rocker as you'll ever hear.

As if the music is not enough to sell this CD, it is offered as an extended CD loaded with a wealth of information, videos and the like.

If you like Celtic, roots music or Country, this one is a no-brainer. Buy this album.

The Canadian group The Rankin Family is absolutely phenomenal. Singer/songwriter Jim Rankin is an absolute genius, and the rest of the family complement him wonderfully. "Fare Thee Well Love" is a most beautiful song. Too bad only Canada got to hear this amazing group. Also, god bless the late John Morris Rankin. He will be missed.

Why have we in the United States heard so little of the Rankins? Although the album was released in the USA this year, I actually bought it in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, over two years ago.

These folks are so talented, it ain't fair to the rest of the world. Get their music while you can. As another reviewer noted, they have decided to quit recording together.

The harmonies are superior in quality, and Raylene's voice will knock you on your backside, guaranteed.

You cannot possibly be disappointed in the Rankins no matter what kind of music you call your favorite. Well, OK, so MAYBE if you have a strong leaning to hip hop, this isn't for you. The rest of you, please, give this album a try.

The new "Collections" album by the Rankins impressed me from the first track. Well written, produced, and featuring a widely diverse collection of styles from classic folk to folk-rock and celtic it showed that this family has talent to spare and the wisdom to put it on display in a well concieved way. Those who love these musical styles as I do will enjoy the hour of listening brought to you by these talented performers.

Even tho my collection of CD's contains all of the music the Rankins have produced, this is the "must have". The new mix of Rovin'Gypsy Boy and the lovely "Down by the Sally Garden" (which is not on any of their previous albums) make this a fresh approach to music I've often heard before. Since the recent announcement of the dis-banding of the Rankins the opportunity to own new Rankin music will be gone. If you do not have any of their other CD's this collection will give you a nice broad view of what we will all be missing when they are no longer performing and recording together.

I have lived on Cape Breton Island for most of my 27 years. I have heard of many artists that have come from this beautiul Island and I am proud to be part of the tradition that exists here. I have listened to some of the music as well, and it brings me back home by the ocean everytime. I had no idea what heritage existed here, and I encourage those of you who have heard of Cape Breton Island to take in some of the music that is produced from artists who are take pride in every note that they produce. These artists deserve more appreciation and they will get more from me. The Rankin's (just to name a few artists from here) are awesome and I will make sure that they are within listening distance wherever I go.

The Rankins made the run for a wordwide career over 10 years ago when they moved from Cape Breton, Canada, to Nashville to record. Although they did appear on CMT, and their talent was applauded and appreciated, they never made it to true stardom. They are stars, however, in the wonderful world of celtic music, and are ever appreciated by their fans,and friends and family, especially in their home of Cape Breton, Canada. A wise choce of music for the fan who loves truly classic non-commercialized celtic music!