Customer Reviews

Early American Cajun Music

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

 

 

Don't let Amazon's editorial review above by Louis Gibson dissuade you, this is a good, very listenable compilation. It's contemplative and gentle but has a lot of the earmarks one would associate with the genre. My favorite so far has been "Sur Le Borde De L'Eau (On The Water's Edge)" sung by Blind Uncle Gaspard, one of those remote ballads of singing sailors, young girls on the water's edge, a lost ring and tragic death, all of which seems to spring straight from the psyche. Beautiful piece. There are a lot of stand-outs though and in particular "La Danseuse" is one of the select tracks to make it onto Harry Smith's Anthology.

Yep, I liked it.

I have not heard this compilation but I have heard the Blind Uncle Gaspard songs on it. They are amazing. Completely unique and beautiful. I disagree with the Amazon review.

This is one of my favorite pieces of recorded music. It's true that this is extremely "simple" music in the actual composition but the chords and singing are very strong and the immediate effect, if you can listen beyond the unfortunately awful recording quality I think you'll find a real treat here. This is lonely, haunting, distant sound. And yes, I will admit that the quality of the recording for me enhances a feeling of lostness that could be mistaken for nostalgia. One answer is no, that it enhances the certainty that no music quite like this will be heard ever again, -- even if that certainty is mistaken.
As for the "this is strickly for collector iceholes who should be ashamed of themselves," etc.-spouting schmuck-head, where's the option to click on a tomato or two to toss his way? Come on, Amazon, I shouldn't have to invent these things for you (gratis).

The amazon review has it partially right...this is an album for ardent Cajun collectors AND for the casual Cajun listener. I love my raucous raisin' Amede Ardoin, Leo Soileau, Bois Sec type Cajun-Creole, but this album has an entirely different feel and sound. I love it!! All the musicians on this album bring a different nuance to what I know as Cajun Creole music. There is quiet tenderness to most tracks. This doesn't mean a lack of passion, quite the contrary, the music is played, masterfully, with a quiet restraint. It is simply breathe-taking. Now my wife and my friends do not understand why I like the "abrasive" cajun of the accordion and fiddle, but they do like this album...I even spied my wife reading the liner notes!!! Great stuff, and a great intro to Cajun music for the novice, and something fresh and new for the ardent collector.