Customer Reviews

Home to You

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Playing Time - 40:27 -- Tennessee's Peasall Sisters sing with a mournful, melancholy and innocent quality that captures an acoustic classic country style of yesteryear. The sisters (Sarah, Hannah and Leah) ae only 18, 15 and 12, respectively. You might recognize their voices as those of George Clooney's daughters in "O Brother, Where Art Thou." Not just a lucky break or fluke, these kids have abundant talent. Their "First Offering" album was a success, and "Home to You" is also a very enjoyable followup. All three girls have an enchanting quality in their singing, and their close harmonies throughout a songs like "Freight Train Blues" are especially noteworthy. They each sing lead and harmony vocals. Sarah plays acoustic guitar and banjo, while Leah plays fiddle. Other joining in the instrumental fun are Randy Scruggs (guitar, slide guitar), Charlie Chadwick (bass, cello), Jamie Hartford (mandolin, electric guitar), Kenny Malone (drums), Laura Cash (fiddle), Larry Perkins (guitar), Leroy Troy (banjo), Gene Chrisman (drums), and Tony Harrell (accordion, piano, harmonium). This is one well-produced album by John Carter Cash. Sarah demonstrates her aptitude for songwriting ("Home to You" and "Logtown"), and Sarah and Hannah play a major role in arranging much of the other material.

The Peasalls choose songs that embody the traditional canon or its spirit and soul. It never hurts to give bonafide respect to the familiar folk ("Fair and Tender Ladies) or the material of the Carter Family ("I Never Will Marry"). They also show an appreciation and aptitude for bluegrass (Newton Thomas' "Rushing Around"), Irish ("Carrick Fergus") and Gospel ("Angel Band," "The Old Account"). Their own compositions are more ethereal in a slower-tempo'ed, acoustic country vein ("Logtown," "Gray County Line") that can turn misty skiies into blue ones. The middle of their set on this project could've used another pick-me-up selection, but at track eight, Jim Brasher's bouncy gospel composition, "The Old Church Yard," is a welcome statement that could've easily been done by the likes of Reno and Smiley decades ago. Individually, their voices are pleasant, and the girls will only get better as lead vocalists with smooth, silky personalities of their own. Their real strength is embodied in the magnetism of their collective vocal sound, best demonstrated on the album's a cappella closer, "Where No One Stands Alone." With an ample amount of rustic purity in their music, The Peasall Sisters are being groomed for even bigger things to come. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

The Peasalls burst onto the roots music scene as the voices behind George Clooney's fictional daughters in the film "O Brother Where Art Thou?" Their 2002 CD debut combined Carter Family classics with Christian Contemporary numbers that framed their sisterly harmonies with a surprising dollop of showbiz savvy. The subsequent three years on the festival and concert circuits has refined both the harmonizing and the presentation, resulting in a CD that's a big step forward.

Three years along, the sisters have traded the schmaltzy CCM tunes for songs of faith and praise that better leverage their church harmonies. At times they are as tight as The Andrews Sisters, such as the three-part singing on "Freight Train Blues," but more often they simply raise goose bumps, such as on the a cappella "Where No One Stand Alone," the Carter classic, "I Never Will Marry," and the traditional "Fair and Tender Ladies." The latter pair's lyrics find surprising resonance with such young voices, casting them back to a time when all three of these teenage girls might already be married off.

Sarah Peasall's trio of originals, including the title track, show a growing lyrical talent that complements the songs assembled from traditional and contemporary catalogs. John Carter Cash's production is spot-on, with rich acoustic picking from Randy Scruggs augmented by mandolin, fiddle, stand-up bass and only the lightest touches of drums. While their debut sparkled, their sophomore effort is a revelation. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]

I discovered these young ladies through the movie O Brother Where Art Thou? and was immediately charmed by their youth, talent, and angelic voices. This CD is full of beautiful songs full of love that (whether you're a big bluegrass fan or not) you will develope a nostalgia for. Their harmonies are lovely, their voices are sweet, and their words are meaningful. Not to mention, they are all accomplished musicians!

I've never bought a bluegrass album before in my life.

Until now.

How did that happen?

Sunday I was getting sick on hot sauce at Dollywood's BBQ & Bluegrass Festival. I had heard something about the Peasall Sisters, and was curious to hear them sing. They had gotten their start eight years ago while auditioning for an acting role in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?. After hearing them sing, the producers landed them a spot on the movie's soundtrack, which went on to earn the girls a Grammy on their first professional recording. From there came contact with stars like Patty Loveless and John Carter Cash, who was entranced enough with them to volunteer to produce their latest album, Home to You.

And so I sat down, clutching my burning belly, to see what three teenagers on mandolin, guitar, and fiddle would offer up on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I suddenly forgot my acute gastritis as I was entranced by some of the sweetest melodies I've ever heard.

The title cut of their album, written by them, put me into tears:

I've been traveling this road for miles
Trying to get to where You are
I know You're telling me the way to go
But I just can't hear You over my heart

Give me grace to make it through the night
Give me faith so I can see the light
Give me strength so I can make it home
To You, home to You

My feet are tired of carrying this load
It seems I'm walking round and round
I need somebody to help me out
Because I want to be standing on Your holy ground

Give me grace to make it through the night
Give me faith so I can see the light
Give me strength so I can make it home
To You, home to You

The sisters wrote this song for a friend who had recently embraced Christianity, but it spoke deeply to me as a prayer for any pilgrim in this life who is looking forward to heaven and praying for the grace to carry on.

The album is a mixture of original compositions, bluegrass standards, and gospel hymns. I loved it. Go get it.

The Peasall Sisters' sound is sweet and harmonic without sappiness.
My 8 yr. old daughter and I listen to them as a way of cultivating an ear for harmonies. Their songs are pleasant and simple. The instrumentation is real and never overpowers the pure vocals. I do not care for country music at all but am able to listen to their music over and over again.
My daughter has taken quite a liking to them and the Peasalls have proven to be an act I don't mind her looking up to.

The first time I saw and heard them was on KY tv. Their sound is 1/3 Dixie chicks, 1/3 Andrew Sisters, 1/3 original and they sometimes had their father on base. Perfect! .... But there's a problem, they only have two albums.... Bummer!
Hopefully another one will be coming out soon. I think a Christmas album would be nice :o)

The was an accidental purchase. I was listening to pandora and it played one of the songs on this album and at the time the only way to look at the album was to click "Buy from Amazon" but it looked to have too much of a southern christian slant for my tastes.

Amazon left it in my "cart" and when I did the next set of purchases I didn't even notice it was still there in the cart. I can't think of a single song on the album that isn't a pleasure to listen to.

This is a very good cd and I certainly enjoyed hearing the voices of the girls now that they have matured a few years since they performed in the movie "Oh, Brother!". I was also surprised and pleased to hear them yodelling on this cd! That was very unexpected!

I heard most of these songs on the documentary DVD about these girls and their family put out by Franklin Springs Media. I just fell in love with their sound. These songs are so soothing, and their story is inspiring. I recommend this CD and their DVD.

This is one of the best CD's I have!!! The harmony is incredible!!!! The Peasall sisters will go far, as they are so multi-talented. Will be a treasured CD.