Eastmountainsouth

Eastmountainsouth | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 17, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dreamworks
• ASIN: B00009N1ZP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,411 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masters of the fine lost art of the vocal duet., November 30, 2003

By 

D. Mok (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Eastmountainsouth (Audio CD)

I heard this record weaving out of a record store PA system and was mesmerized. It's been a long time since I've heard a true contemporary vocal duet of equal partners. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings come close, but Welch is obviously the center in their partnership. Eastmountainsouth, on the other hand, practises close harmony and shared lead singing in the tradition of The Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel, and my favourite vocal partnership, Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. And they do it well, while writing great songs with organic arrangements that are spare but never undernourished.

Kat Maslich's is a classic folk voice, warm and resonant, and Peter Adams' counter melodies are always beautiful. They are like a reversal of the roles of Parsons/Harris, with Maslich taking a little more of the spotlight, but the emphasis being on dual leads. "Hard Times" is a great take on the folk standard, beautiful in its simplicity, never becoming repetitive like so many modern folk songs. The vibrant rhythms of "You Dance" shows that this duo can do folk-rock as well as anybody else; "So Are You to Me" shows Maslich stripping her voice bare with only a piano as accompaniment; the beautiful and haunting "The Ballad of Young Alban and Amandy" sounds a little like an old English ballad, the kind that Kate Rusby specializes in; and "Rain Come Down"'s tinkling piano and guitar weave a mystical soundscape that is sheer magic with Maslich and Adams' voices. The production, by Adams and Mitchell Froom, is a winner, showing none of the electronica tendencies and dressiness that had marred Froom's work with Suzanne Vega. Good judgment here to rely on organic instrumentation and a warm, analog-like sound that allows the voices and songs to breathe and come alive.

It's a joy to see a group that takes such care in its voices and composition that its work instantly comes across as timeless and lasting. Bravo.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars real music by real people, July 9, 2003

By 

Danilo Dickerman (Saratoga, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eastmountainsouth (Audio CD)

The album is extremely lyrical and beautiful, without ever resorting to the typical formulaic pop cliche's which can make so much other music unlistenable. The clips here are a good start, with more detail on their own website (eastmountainsouth.com) but miss-out on gems like "mark's song", which has moved me to tears more than once.

I, too, saw them open for Tracy Chapman recently, and was quite impressed with their ability to convey such delicate, peaceful music in that environment -- down to the subtleties of the percussionist, who was using brushes, cloth mallets and his hands on the drum kit (never sticks) keeping rhythm without piercing the mood. On the stage when most of the crowd is just milling-in, waiting for the main act, they kept the audience rapt with attention.

The music seems very personal and heart-felt, but at the same time they were very comfortable interacting with the crowd -- bringing you into their world and making you want to share in their stories. Definitely worth tracking them down while they're still playing small clubs (bars, bookstores, opening acts), lending an ear and humming along. Meanwhile, buy the album.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this album!, May 26, 2005

By 

J. Kuo (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eastmountainsouth (Audio CD)

I discovered eastmountainsouth after I watched a cheesy romantic flick called Lucky Seven. They played the song "So Are You To Me" in one scene, and I was so struck by the female vocalist singing this song that I immediately went online to try and hunt down the artist. It turned out to be eastmountainsouth. I purchased their album, and I immediately fell in love with the vocal harmony, the lyrics, and the music alone especially the violin. Kat Moslich Bode's voice truly goes straight to my heart every time I hear it.

I think it was on their website that I read what Peter Bradley Adams said about singing with Kat. He said that when he took the lead vocal position on some of the songs, it felt really weird because he always saw himself as more of a background vocalist. This made me admire this duo even more because of their down-to-earth, modest attitude. That's hard to find these days- honest and talented musicians that are in it because they simply love music and not because of the fame and fortune.

Buy this album and you won't regret it. Also visit their site and check out what Peter and Kat are doing with their solo gigs-it looks like they may have unfortunately parted ways.

Favorite tracks- So Are You To Me, Ghost, Still Running, All The Stars, Too Soon