The Middle Earth Album

Glass Hammer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 1, 2001)
• Original Release Date: June 1, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• ASIN: B00005R0AK
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,647 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Elrenn and Endereth

2. The Old Troll

3. The Old Troll and the Maiden

4. Dwarf and Orc

5. The King's Beer

6. The Ballad of Balin Longbeard

7. The Man in the Wood

8. Mirkwood

9. As I Walk

10. The Last Ship

11. Mithrandir (This Fading Age)

12. Sweet Goldberry

13. No Crown for Balin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In the style of...., October 17, 2001

By 

G-Dexter (Lakewood, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Middle Earth Album (Audio CD)

This album is a sequel to the first Glass Hammer effort, JOURNEY OF THE DUNADAN. Specifically, it revisits The Prancing Pony Inn, in the town of Bree, in the County of Shire, in the land of Middle Earth. If you're with me so far, you're going to love this CD. If you're wondering what in the world I'm talking about, you may still like it, though you might be confused.

This CD was ostensibly recorded live in the mythical land from J.R.R. Tolkein's epic novels. The songs are somewhat Celtic in nature, and relate tales of Dwarves and Orcs, Old Trolls and princesses, Kings and Elves. There are tales of daring escapes, evil deeds and heroic adventures. In short, it's a rolicking good time and a wonderful companion piece to the novels.

In my opinion, Glass Hammer can now be difinitively subdivided into two distinct musical catagories: progressive rock and celtic (Middle Earthian) folk. PERELANDRA, ON TO EVERMORE and especially CHRONOMETREE are great CD's for the lovers of Alan Parsons, ELP, or Genesis. If your tastes lean more towards Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention, or even the Chieftains, you will be more inclined to enjoy JOURNEY OF THE DUNADAN and THE MIDDLE EARTH ALBUM. At first listening, all of their CD's seem a bit whimsical, which is part of their charm. However, with repeated play, the complexities and brilliance of each CD emerges, and the enjoyment grows. Whichever CD you choose, Fred Schendel and Stephen Babb, et al are wonderful musicians and I highly recommend their work.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Like This One..., March 8, 2002

By 

AmazonShopper "ussjulia" (Lafayette, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Middle Earth Album (Audio CD)

Though I wish there were tracks you could sample here on amazon, I did go over the bands web site, to listen to a few samples, and then I came & I ordered it here. The first few songs are just fun. Let the modern world go for a bit, and settle in for some fun with your friends...be they dwarven, hobbit, elven, men & women of Bree...these songs will remind you of the middle ages of our time, and yet, you know there is a different feeling in there too.
After about 20 minutes, the tone changes, and there is a more melodious, what I would term more Elven quality. Many of the vocals & songs are beautiful, other songs...they are okay, not great...
Overall, I really really like this CD...I am a Tolkien reader, and I love his mind...I don't know if a non-Tolkien person would care for this...but for a Tolkien believer...yes, I think you just may find you love this CD.
Just a added note. It takes more then one listen to absorb this music. (like when you see a movie more then once...)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing like it this side of the Sundering Seas, May 28, 2002

By 

Dan (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Middle Earth Album (Audio CD)

I was referred to this CD by a Tolkien fan website, and I was not disappointed. It's an unusual concept album, set in the Prancing Pony Inn in the town of Bree from Tolkien's Middle-earth. A group of bards has arrived to entertain the crowd, and does so with a wide selection of ballads and bawdy barroom sing-a-longs. Renaissance and medieval instruments have some influence on GH here, but mostly it's toe-tapping fun set in a magical place. Just try not to sing along in "Dwarf and Orc," I dare you.

A must own for all Tolkien fans and conneseurs of progressive indie rock, and also a great buy for somebody who just wants something different.