Customer Reviews

This Empty Northern Hemisphere

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

 

 

I heard "That Moon Song" on the radio a couple weeks back. When I hear a good song, I typically write down the name of the artist and song so I can go back later to download it. Often times I lose interest, forget to go back, or get the one song I like and move on to newer and greener pastures. After I got this one song, I got curious what the rest of the album was like. I had been burned before by artists who had one or two good songs and I had taken a chance on their album and made the big purchase, so I was skeptical. I went to the artists website and I listened to each song in his set. I immediately loved this album. It is slow and melodic. His style reminds me a bit of a modern Bob Dylan, without the weird inflection in voice. If you have heard 'That Moon Song' and really enjoyed it, you won't regret getting the rest of the album.

I agree with the other commenter above me as well. Every song, on the album, sounds like the album cover looks.

The first song I ever heard from this guy was "That Moon Song" and I heard it on The Wake Up Sets on SiriusXM's station The Loft. The host of that morning show has a penchant for playing what has been termed "sad b@st@rd songs."
Gregory Alan Isakov has made an album full of these songs. This is most definitely a headphone album. The songs just glow and wrap you up in emotion. Strings, acoustic guitars, softly tapping drums and Gregory's gentle voice all blend together nicely to create one fine album.
I don't know if this makes any sense, but the songs on this album sound exactly like what the album cover looks like. If it doesn't make sense now, it will once you listen to the album.

If you're a fan of Doug Burr, then you'll probably like this album.

Key Track: That Moon Song.

I bought this album on CD immediately after seeing Isakov open for Brandi Carlile in 2009. It's a gorgeous, haunting album; and it sounds even better on vinyl. There are only one or two songs on the album that I skip.

"That Moon Song," "Big Black Car," "Master and a Hound," "Virginia May"... all amazing. I highly recommend this album.

I can confidently say this album has taken its place among my favorite albums of all time. Whatever you do, do not buy just a song here or there. This one deserves to be bought and listened to as a work of art from beginning to end. If ever I am walking in a beautiful natural setting, or even lying in the dark and just want to feel meditative, this album is amazing. It crystalizes the most intense emotions without ever being over the top. It gets to you without you fully understanding how. It is just exquisite in its subtlety. Modern folk at its absolute best.

My daughter turned me onto this guy. I immediately bought all of his stuff, and as someone who buys alot of music, he is near the top of my all time favorites. His song writing is original, organic, and is sort of a blend of Cowboy Junkies and Dylan. I honestly think he is that very rare singer, a true original. I have been enjoying turning on my folkie friends to this amazing performer.

I stumbled upon 'That Moon Song' on Pandora. Beautiful arrangements, thoughtful lyrics...I was sold. I bought the album and it is easily one of my favorites in the folk/Americana genre (although Isakov is originally from South Africa). There is not a weak song on the album. Mr. Isakov is a poet and a damn fine musician. It is an absolute shame that he is not better known. Writing this review is my small attempt at correcting this. Preview the songs. If you even remotely like what you hear, buy this album. I seriously doubt you will ever regret it, and most likely you will, like me, become a loyal fan.

Great CD, not a sharp edge on it, soulful lyrics and spare, haunting production. If you liked Bon Ivers "For Emma", get this, from the same mold.

Perhaps my new artist of the year (2009). Heard him on the radio once and he's been stuck in my mind ever since. Just had to get the CD and what an awesome CD. Don't miss out.

this is one of the best albums i've heard in a long time. loved every song. dreamlike music. beautiful melodies. great escape.

One does not listen to this album, rather, you are absorbed by it. Each word and note bathe and enwrap you and touch your soul. Such a remarkable voice and writer. We should have a world of Mr. Isakov's! But then, if we did, he would not be the astonishing genius he that is THIS EMPTY NORTHERN HEMPISHERE.