Customer Reviews

The Hard & The Easy

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For a longtime fan, The Hard and the Easy is quite a memorable feat. On the one hand, you could say Great Big Sea is playing to their strengths with an all-traditional album. But on the other hand, many of the songs here do not resemble anything they've ever done, even on traditional-heavy discs like the seminal UP or their eponymous debut.

Although they've always leaned heavily (and successfully) on folk sounds, The Hard and the Easy breaks new ground for the band by being their first entirely acoustic album. The songs are lean, quick and at times vaguely familiar. The informative liner notes give the history of each tune. . .a welcome education for us faraway fans who may never set foot on the isle of Newfoundland.

It's nice to see Bob Hallet getting a couple of tunes, and Sean McCann continues to improve at balladry, something he sometimes faltered at on Something Beautiful. His rendering of Graceful & Charming ranks with the band's best love songs.

But for the most part, The Hard and the Easy is about having fun. The expected seafaring tales are there, but there is also further exploration of Newfoundland history in songs like Concerning Charlie Horse and darkly funny Cod Liver Oil. The Mermaid is guaranteed to put a smile on your face; Captain Kidd, Old Polina and the bittersweet Harbour Lecou are destined to be classics.

I confess, I like GBS's original songs every bit as much as the traditional stuff. And UP is still the standard for providing a mix of the old and the new. Which is why I've given this release 4 instead of 5 stars. For other longtime fans, especially those who felt letdown by the more pop-oriented Something Beautiful, this album will be a 5-star one.

And by the way, if you're new to Great Big Sea, this is a fine introduction. . .but there are MANY more joys to be found in their catalog. I'd recommend you get 'em all.

One last note: The DVD included in this release is a nice bonus, mostly footage of the 3 guys playing and talking about their love of their homeland's culture. Best part: Singer Alan Doyle points out that The Hard and the Easy is perhaps the only album in history to include not one, but TWO songs about a horse falling through the ice! It's ultimately nothing groundbreaking, but fans will certainly appreciate it.

Rains, gales, any kind of weather, the 'goofy Newfies' making up Great Big Sea add joy and inspiration to their musical tradition. Their eighth album covers the traditional ballads of Newfoundland and Cape Breton. When listening, the music flows as easily as the coastal waters on a calm day, but there's complexity and strength in the music--and harmony. This is one album to listen to on a down day--and keep you joyous even on good days!

This is just another great CD by Great Big Sea. While this album is traditional folk songs they still manage to put their spin on it. I have listened o this cd over and ever again. If you like Great Big Sea you will not be dissappointed. If you have never heard of them.. you will still probably not be disappointed.

The Hard and The Easy is a 100% traditional, acoustic album of enduring Newfoundland songs. This is GBS at their finest. It is truly a labour of love. This album is rich in Newfoundland history and culture. Their musical ablities and harmonies shine right through on this 12 song disc.

I just love the music on this CD, maybe because some of my ancestors are from Brigus, Newfoundland. It's been in my CD player non stop. You can't help but smile, while you listen to it.

Some of the topics sung about are: seafaring, logging, horses, ponds, ice, pirates, mermaids, infidelity, love, sexuality, and the dreaded cod liver oil.

All the songs were great, but my favourites were: "Graceful & Charming (Sweet Forget-Me-Not)", "Old Polina", "Captain Kidd", "Concerning Charlie Horse", "French Shore" and "Tickle Cove Pond".

One of the highlights is Bob singing lead on "Come and I Will Sing You (The Twelve Apostles)". This is a counting song similar to the "Twelve Days of Christmas", but can be sung at any time of the year. The liner notes state that it is one of the oldest songs in "Newfoundland tradition".

Alan's rendition of a logging song called "The River Driver" is fantastic. His vocals are tinged with regret and sadness.

There's a tongue-in-cheek song called "The Mermaid" sung by Séan. It shows some of the earthier humour from Newfoundland. If you have heard it, you know what I mean. "Show me your fin!" ;) lol!

"Graceful & Charming (Sweet Forget-Me-Not)" and the "French Shore" are beautifully sung by Séan and Alan, respectfully.

There are many fast tempo songs for singing and tapping your feet to in the pub: "Old Polina", "The Mermaid", "Captain Kidd", "Concerning Charlie Horse", "Tishialuk Girls Set", and "Tickle Cove Pond".

The liner notes give a brief description of every song included on the disc.

This is a 2 CD set, the first is a CD containing the music and the second a DVD with Alan, Séan and Bob explaining the origins of the songs and singing them in a relaxed, homey atmosphere.

This is a wonderful album! 5 outta 5 stars from me.

Cheers!!

"The Hard and the Easy" is perhaps GBS' most anticipated release in some time. I am here to say that the boys did not disappoint. GBS has an incredible knack for bringing an endless amount of energy and enthusiasm to traditional Newfoundland/Celtic music and they do it here with reckless abandon. McCann is back in fine voice on the rollicking sea shanty, "Old Polina" and equally impressive on "Cod Liver Oil". Doyle's tracks are every bit as impressive, notably, "Captain Kidd", "Here's to Charlie Horse" and "River Driver". Bob Hallett's two tunes, for the moment, appear to be hit or miss, but "The Mermaid" is one of the highlights of the entire disc; perhaps "Come and I will Sing You" will age like a fine wine. All in all, "The Hard and the Easy" gets high marks from this GBS fan and I could not more highly recommend it.
For anyone newly exposed to Great Big Sea, might I suggest checking out "Up", "Rant and Roar", "Turn" and their live disc "Road Rage". Also, they have another live disc that includes a DVD which is a tremendous way to get a feel for their live performances. Speaking of which, they are touring now and they are not to be missed live...they have put on some of the best shows I've ever seen.

Playing Time - 41:16 --It was about twenty years ago that some students studying English and folklore met at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. Their bands like Newfoundland Republican Army and Rankin Street eventually evolved in 1993 into Great Big Sea with multi-instrumentalists Alan Doyle, Séan McCann, Bob Hallett and Darrell Power. Darrell has since left the group, replaced by Toronto-area native Murray Foster. From Pictou County, Kris MacFarlane is the fifth member of Great Big Sea and plays drums and percussion. During the band's 15 years, they've produced nine albums that blend traditional and contemporary approaches to folk music, always with copious amounts of imagery and emotional sentiment. This release, however, takes the new approach of being all-acoustic.

With a seafaring theme, many of their songs on "The Hard and the Easy" immediately draw you in for interaction with humorous lyrics and catchy melodies. Arrangements are given rousing pub-song presentation, and listeners who like songs about the flowing bowl in a more relaxed style might actually prefer to explore the material of a duo like William Pint and Felicia Dale. "Harbour Lecou" and "Cod Liver Oil" are the types of stories that they can so evocatively tell. Great Big Sea's lineup includes six guests on 5-string banjo, harmonica, and vocals. It would be hard to not sing along on "Captain Kidd," which features Fergus O'Byrne's banjo. It might've been rather interesting to invite a guest to play some hurdy gurdy on a bounding tune like this. The down-home, earthy side of the band, along with a bit of bawdiness, is best captured in "The Mermaid," a song I've heard entertainers like Alex Beaton cover.

Frank Maher's harmonica provides expressive fill for the sentimental ballad, "Graceful & Charming (Sweet Forget-Me-Not)." It's a bit of an extreme segue to the next cut, "Concerning Charlie Horse," which is back into a pub-song mode. The liner notes don't identify exactly who is singing on which cuts. Great Big Sea's instrumental prowess is best captured in "Tishialuk Girls Set" that begins with low whistle before making a genesis into an accordion and fiddle-driven dance music and song. If one is more interested in their original material, look for their 2004 album, "Something Beautiful." Somewhat of a concept album, "The Hard and the Easy" captures the joy and delight of their region's unique musical canon.

Besides having obvious personal affection for these songs, the band members also know that the playful tunes are solid crowd pleasers. There are plenty of references to history, life, labor and love. One would be hard-pressed to not be pleased with renditions of the tongue-twisting "Come and I Will Sing You," the somber "River Driver," or the poignant "Tickle Cove Pond." The album's title comes from words mentioned in the latter, part ballad and part chantey that tells the story of falling through ice and losing a trusted horse. "The hard and the easy, we take as they come ..." epitomizes the band's undaunted attitude about success and perseverance. In addition, a DVD that comes with the album shows Alan, Bob and Sean talking about their songs, reflecting on their region's musical traditions, and singing the songs in relaxed, informal fashion. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

These may be folk tunes, sung to traditional acoustic insturmentation, but there is nothing simple about them.

If you know the complex forces that allow a boat to sail into the wind when she's trimmed just right, you will be able feel that balance ant tautness here.

The boys from the "Tropical Isle of Newfoundland" have got her trimmed just right on this one. These are the most interesting vocals they've ever done. The humor and energy they are famous for gives these songs focus and power. The instrumentals are rich and "lovely, lovely". They seem to have broken through to a new musical level. Every tune is as good as the last. No duds here.

GBS: DON'T C0ME DOWN. DON'T GET LEVEL. DON'T GET YOUR FEET BACK ON THE GROUND. I hope they keep the tunes coming.

I was very much looking forward to this disk because GBS sang many of the songs on their tour this spring. And it is new ground. From the mysterious "12 Apostle" shanty to the bawdy "Mermaid" (which will explain the cover)to the eponymous "Graceful and Charming" (which I swear I have somewhere by Triona ni Dhomnail, but I can't prove it). All acoustic, all pure Newfoundland folk. I hate taking that 1 star away from my hard playing, hard working tundra troubadours. But there's just that little smidgeon of something that is not there, absent the audience and lights.

I'll broke two exceptions: "Captain Kidd", full of energy and exuberance, and "River Driver", a shanty accompanied only by drum (It's done with spooky effectiveness in concert). Pure musical bliss. The rest of the CD is terrific compared to those of mortals, but simply lacks the additional GBS sparkle from their live sets.

You know, I appreciate a fan who can have a little fun with their music. The Barenaked Ladies are another group that can pull this off. However, the songs on this album are filled with stories, rhymes, and history. It makes for a good listen.

GBS calls this a departure. Maybe it is because their last few albums have gone toward mainstream where music with no heart resides. However, I don't call this a departure. I call it a return. A return to their roots and the music that made them a favorite of mine. What an excellent album. It is heartfelt music that brings out the best GBS has to offer. The only weak song on the CD is 'Tishialuk Girls Set'. The rest are what I love about GBS. The DVD that comes with it showing them playing the songs makes it all even better. This is a CD any fan of Newfie/Celtic music must own. Before the CD ends, you'll be reaching for the rum while you are cranking up the volume. Long live Charlie Horse!!