Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits Volume 1

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

 

 

This is a nice collection of their greatest hits up in Canada because I don't think they have ever had one here. America's loss! Nice sound with great harmonies that is very reminiscent of many great `60's bands like The Byrds, CSN and The Hollies. They even do an amazing cover of The Bee Gees "To Love Somebody" with strings and horns which has never been previously released. Their songs go from pop to country to rock to folk and even to some great psychedelia (check out "Diamond Mine"). They sound like five different bands that are each very talented. Sarah McLachlan's voice and piano appear on one song..."Dark Angel".

Well, what can I say... I can't say that I've ever heard Blue Rodeo on American radio, but then again I just got into indie radio a short time ago. In any case, I've been a Blue Rodeo fan since "Tremolo" and built my collection around that one and I was taken aback that there were no songs from "Tremolo". Two of Blue Rodeo's best works are not represented here: "Tremolo" and "The Days In Between".

Personal critiques aside, I suppose this is a good springboard for newcomers to the band as they will pretty well get a solid helping of some of the best songs that Keelor and Cuddy had to offer from 1987-2002. I will say though, that the album does drag as the last five songs are slower in pace, but still enjoyable (I exclude "Bulletproof". I never liked this one. I think "Comet" should have been the first single from "Palace of Gold").

You be the judge! Enjoy!

I've been a long time fan of Blue Rodeo...What can I say that's not already been said about one of Canada's favorite exports! If you have'nt listened to their alt-country/folk rock music before, this is agood place to start as it features a good selection of their greatest hits (Vol.1)
Highly recommended!!!!

Listening to this album brought me back to my highschool days in Ontario and days with my friends who listened to Blue Rodeo. The choice of songs is great, although a few more ballads would have made the whole album all the better and more complete. This is a great album from a very unique band!

Love all the songs a couple of my faves were missing though...

Having returned an early album by this band years ago because I simply couldn't hear the lyrics I decided a few days ago to give them another chance since it was the day after Canada Day.
I didn't like the first 4 tracks. Tracks 5 and 6 are alright and track 7 is OK until the singer starts screaming as he did on earlier tracks. His voice is too thin to be screaming. Robert Plant, Alice Cooper and Ozzie are my idea of good screamers for comparisons. Track 8 begins well and maintains until the guitar solo which has some annoying picking notes near the end. Track 9 is good but points out the over-miked lead singer which doesn't permit harmonies. Nice slide guitar. Track 10 is nice and mellow with good harmonica. Track 11 is quite beautiful with Sarah's duet. Track 12 is OK. Track 13 OK. Track 14 is a soulful number. It seems to represent a change in direction until the guitar solo which is pretty cliche. The sax and horns don't work well with it at the end.
The problem is that these guys are vastly inferior to their idols- the Dead,The Band, The Flying Burritto Brothers and the Bryds among others. They don't have the vocal harmonies and their arrangements are too derivative. I especially dislike the singer who does the bad Dylan imitation. Anybody can do a bad Dylan. Joan Baez,etc.. It's fun! I just don't want to listen to it. Otherwise the other guy does a kind of southern California accent that is not indigenous to Toronto but which is nevertheless more listenable.
Maybe by next Canada Day I will have grown to appreciate this band more.

I gave this album 3 out of 5 stars because of the glaring omissions. While alot of their best tracks are here, where's Rebel, How Long, House Of Dreams(One of their best songs, period), Rain Down On Me, Flying..? I could keep going, and that's only from their first three albums. One would hope Volume 2 will correct this. Actually, they could probably fill 3 greatest hits albums. Any real fan of these guys would just pick up any one of their albums,(better yet, get them all) you won't be disappointed with any of them. By the way the guy from Missouri is an idiot. "The Days In Between" was one of their poorer albums and "Tremolo" was a middling album and I know what I'm talking about, I've been a fan since BR's first album "Outskirts" way back in '87. Get yourself "Five Days In July", it's Blue Rodeo's masterpiece.