Customer Reviews

Hourglass

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I live in Australia but first heard Kate when visiting England. I bought hourglass after hearing one song and this album has become my number one alltime favourite. The first six or seven times I listened to Hourglass I could not stop the tears, the songs were just so full of emotion and simply touched something inside. "Annan Waters" particularly evokes feelings that go way beyond the words and the music, it will bring tears to your eyes. "Jolly Ploughboys" will make you laugh. Listen to "Bold Riley", a sea shanty, and you can almost smell the salt. "I am Stretched on your Grave" will make you cry with anger at the injustice of olde worlde England. Many of my friends have never listened to folk music before but everyone of them has been touched by this CD. My 15 year old son is into heavy metal and Rap music but Kate Rusby has touched him too. He will often put "Hourglass" on instead of his usual choices. Kate is not very well known here in Australia yet, but I think it is only a matter of time and exposure. How can such a huge talent fail to become world famous.

British folkie Kate Rusby has created a fine disc, bucking all of the problems that plague so many modern folk artists.

Actually, there is little that is modern about Hourglass. Most of the songs from this disc are from Medieval England, and they are performed exceptionally well, with feeling and grace.

Standouts include the traditional Annan Waters (listen to the way the piano is introduced about 30 secondes into this one) and Kate's own A Rose in April (if this doesn't bring tears to your eyes, then the following song, Radio Sweethearts (a beautiful, beautiful number about what can only be described as a true love relationship), certainly will.)

Listen to the pristine, undoctored beauty of Kate's voice. I simply have never heard an instrument of such beauty and purity. The sadness in Kate's voice is also readily apparent (and appropriate for most of the songs). I once read a reviewer's comment that Kate's voice is not unlike June Tabor's. When I first listended to Kate, I thought nothing could be further from the truth. But I now agree with the reviewer. Kate's voice, per se, sounds nothing like June's. However, her emotion, her sadness, and her phrasing are very similar. June and Kate are the two greatest folk singers in the world, maybe of all time.

Listen to Hourglass. It is timeless, and it is true art.

-- Michael J. Shogi

It has been years since I've been so moved by a piece of music in any genre (maybe not since I first heard Vivaldi's Adagio for Strings as background music to the film GALLIPOLI). Rusby's voice has that same ability to grab your heart at its core and hang onto it. The sound itself goes beyond intellect, reaching deep into your heart and soul; yet once you stop to focus on the lyrics, you'll be astonished all over again. "Annan Waters," "A Rose in May," and "I Am Stretched Out on Your Grave" have been playing over and over in my head when I'm away from my CD player. The subtle arrangements on this album meet perfection, enhancing the songs, the lyrics, and the artist's unique vocalizations. (A previous viewer couldn't be more right about the way the piano enters "Annan Waters.") Rusby's songwriting talent is equally awesome. If you aren't well-versed in traditional songs, you'll find it impossible to tell them from her newly penned gems. I first heard Rusby in an interview on NPR while driving home. (Unfortunately, this was at the end of her short US tour--please come back soon, Kate!). She was promoting her new album, LITTLE LIGHTS. With no hesitation, I turned off the highway and stopped at the mall to pick it. Since then, I've been tracking down everything Rusby has recorded, including Poozies and Battlefield Band CDs. LITTLE LIGHTS is a bit more polished than HOURGLASS; frankly, I prefer the latter for its rare combination of rawness and fragility. Kate Rusby is an incredible, unexpected talent. (Dare I say God's gift to folk music?) This HOURGLASS is one you'll keep turning over and over--you won't want it to run down.

I was in a bookstore and heard this beautiful, sad, lovely music and had to find out who it was. I had never heard of Kate Rusby but bought "Hourglass" and listened to it in the car and then drove back and bought "Sleepless" also. Since then both cds have not left my player. I recommend this highly to any lover or potential lover of folk music. Such sweet sadness and warmth is infrequently discovered.

If I ever Needed a gentle soothing voice to lull me to sleep at nights, Kate Rusby would be right there by my side. English folk sensation has put together some very formular traditional songs with her own personal touches to them...how many more times will "I Am Stretched On Your Grave" be covered.

Although I like all three of Kate Rusby's c.d's "Hourglass" is my personal favorite and it isn't only my favorite of hers but of any folk c.d in general and I have never been deeply rooted in the folk genre before then, she just may of changed that for me.
What distiguishes the three is only one song "A Rose In April". I like all the songs but "A Rose In April" literally hits you and you can't help but feel the tragedy it holds...it tugs at the heart strings and never lets go. There are some uptempo songs and cheerful songs,"Sir Eglamore", "Jolly Ploughboys" and "Stananivy/Jack And Jill" are very good.

I don't think you really need to be a avid folk listener to appreciate this c.d, it's a great c.d to unwind to your day and not have something or someone screaming at you...you have had enough of that through out the day as is.

What a surprise! ...I picked this CD up afer hearing it on a demo stand. It is one of the absolute best folk-celt CD's I have ever heard. This one has dislodged the wonderful Connie Dover CD 'Somebody' as my fave in this style. Their are so many poignant tracks on this CD, that it is easy to overlook how strong and subtle Rusby's voice is, how well the playing is mated to to style and content, and the overall mix quality...Purchase both ( Connie and Kate), you won't regret it...

Hourglass contains some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard; it brings tears to your eyes just because of its intense beauty. Then, if the lovliness of the music does not move you to tears, the tragedy described in some of the lyrics will. But never have songs about dying, fears of dying, true love ending in tragedy, and unrequited love been so beautiful as when the words pass through the lips of Kate Rusby. She has been gifted not only with a beautiful voice, but with the musician's gift of knowing how to use her voice to illustrate the depth of feeling in her lyrics.

Browsing a record shop last year I picked up Little Lights at the time of its release. I liked it well enough to get Hourglass a few weeks later. Since then, this is the closest I've come to wearing out a CD.

I'm hardly a folkie, but I found this CD very accessible as I'm sure many others would. The blend of trad songs and Rusby originals is excellent as is the classy instrumental backing to Rusby's distinctive voice.

There is much to enjoy on the CD but I'll pick out A Rose in April and Drowned Lovers as my favourites.

This album was recommended to me by a friend and I will be forever grateful to her. Kate Rusby's voice is lovely, and it displays a maturity well beyond her twenty-some years. This music seems to be so much a part of her that it feels effortless. I now have every album of hers that is available, and they are all simply beautiful. Purchase this cd, you will not be sorry!

i must admit that i heard this on a recorded tape while i was waiting for a girl i was babysitting to fall asleep, and i may have missed the last song or two, but what i heard was amazing. this woman's music is beautiful--you lose yourself in her lyrics, her voice, and her stunning guitar riffs: especially when you expect to hear a child's lullaby tape, and you get kate rusby. someone you may never have heard of, but if you know one thing, you know that as soon as you can get to the store you're going to buy her cd.