Customer Reviews

Homeland

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

 

 

I bought "Homeland" after hearing it on the PA system at Page One in Albuquerque, N.M. Tish Hinojosa immediately became my new favorite singer. Her voice is clean and pure and it's as if the woman has lived part of my life and written songs about it. "Donde Voy" can break your heart; "Till You Love Me Again" and "Who Showed You The Way To My Heart" make me feel young again; "Rancherita" makes you want to dance, and "Amanecer" is pensive and beautiful. I buy Tish's CDs wherever I can find them!! She sings in Spanish and English. Even if you don't understand Spanish, you will love her music!

I first saw Tish on "Austin City Limits" (a PBS music program.) She had the full hour and sang song after song that she wrote. I absolutely loved her music. She was moving, original, and had a folk art type of style. Best of all, she was not just a gifted writer, but also a talented singer.

I searched for her CD, and finally found it a year later. I have purchased several for my friends and we all enjoy her music.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Tish sounds a lot like Emmylou but Emmylou has never recorded an album anything like this, so it's not a problem. - on the contrary, it's an asset Tish was born of Mexican parents who separately settled in San Antonio, Texas. In a song here, West side of town, Tish tells of their struggle for a better life north of the Tex-Mex border. It seems that neither parent lived to see Tish succeed with her musical career.

The set opens with a song (Joaquin) about a Mexican who tries to cross the border, but Tish doesn't know if he succeeds. Other songs also reflect life on the border, but there are also love songs here and a couple of cowboy songs (Voice of the Rio Grande, Rancherita) though Rancherita is also a love song. Tish sings mostly in English but some of the songs are in Spanish or include Spanish lines. The booklet contains full lyrics including English translations where applicable. While the overall sound is folk-country, the Latin influences are there too, including Flaco Jiminex on accordion.

If you enjoy quality folk-country music, you will surely love this album. Whether this is the best album by Tish, I do not know. I certainly wish I'd bought more of her music.

Recorded 3 years before what may be the best Hinojosa work, "Culture Swing", "Homeland" is a Spanish and English ode to the Tex Mex border and the lives lived there. Tales of immigrants hoping to just break even in their new country, love songs accompanied by the big guitar (there is even a song called, "Voice of the Big Guitar", the one non-Hinojosa tune on the CD). Tish's voice is already strong and yet vulnerable, delicate enough to trill a Spanish ballad; but able to belt out a Wanda Jackson-esque "Till You love Me Again".

This is a great introduction to one of the gems of the Southwest, exhibiting more of her Latina side than future CDs.