Customer Reviews

The Middle Earth Album

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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...)

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.

When I first listened to The Middle Earth Album, I was dissapointed. Knowing Chronomotree I expected a prog rock experience. It turned out that I found myself surrounded by halflings and other inhabitants of the Shire who come to the pub to have a pleasant and feastfull evening. The first six songs are folk-songs straight from Middle Earth, the wonderful and haunting world, created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The others are tales that take place in the same fantasy. Except for the closing song, where we are back again in the Inn.

It took me some time to adjust my expectations, but once drawn over the line there was no turning back. This cd is a work of genius! Just like all the other works of Glass Hammer. In The Middle Earth Album you actually sit beside the merry lot in The Prancing Pony (the pub) and laugh about the joking songs about trolls and dwarfs and Tom Bombadill. The other songs bring tears to your eyes for the breathtaking atmosphere the create. Like The Last Ship, where the hero's of the story are leaving for the Grey Havens. It is best if you know the story, but not needed.

To go short: this new album of Glass Hammer is completely new from what they have done before. It is a magical work, just as Tolkiens novel is. The Journey of the Dunadan must indeed be mentioned in one breath with this Middle Earth Album. Dunadan is much more storytelling and Middle Earth Album is much more an atmospherical journey. Very much a pity that Fred Schendel and company are not invited to write the music for the upcomming movies.
For those who love the stories of Tolkien and for those who do not but can appreciate intelligent music: this album is a must buy!

The Middle Earth Album has a renaissance faire medievalism about it that is authentic as well as inspired. Half of this concept CD puts the listener in the Prancing Pony to hear Middle Earth-inspired drinking songs complete with the shouts and catcalls of hobbits, dwarves, men, and sundry other patrons enjoying their ale. Even the studio tracks, which comprise the second half of the album, carry through the earthiness of the Bree setting. Though none of the lyrics are Tolkien's, each song in some way refers directly to characters, creatures, or events from LOTR. Glass Hammer balances raucous sing-alongs such as "The Old Troll and the Maiden" and "Dwarf and Orc" with thoughtful works such as "As I Walk" and "Mithrandir (This Fading Age)" that reflect on the experience of the fellowship and its allies. Glass Hammer manages to sneak in some introspection and regret without losing the pace of the album. Make no mistake, though: this is a good time CD for those who want to party like it's 1442 Shire Reckoning. Best track: "The King's Beer." Aragorn returns to Bree to drink Barliman Butterbur's best brew! Compulsively sing-along-able.

This album is, simply put, *AMAZING*!

Glass Hammer are known for their inventive Prog-Rock, and there is some very interesting work along those lines here (particuarly the songs dedicated to Gandalf and Goldberry).

But for the most part "The Middle-Earth Album" is a wonderful break with form for this band, as pervading it is an extraordinarily rustic and folky feel.

And how could it not be, when the first half of the album is claimed to have been recorded "live at the Prancing Pony Inn in Bree"?

I've been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's magical works almost from birth, and am a bit picky about musical and artistic tributes to his unique creation. But this CD truly does the great master's work justice!

Glass Hammer made a very daring move on this CD by choosing not to perform the many songs from "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", but instead to write original songs that are very much in the vein of said works.

So what we have here is a completely original piece that nonetheless sounds as if it could have been plucked straight from Tolkien's fantastical world.

I can't recommend it enough to all Tolkien fans everywhere!

With their most recent release, The Middle Earth Album, renowned
Progressive Rock band Glass Hammer not only takes us back to JRR
Tolkien's Middle-earth (GH's first album, Journey of the Dunadan, was also
set here) but they take us with them. The first part of the album, what would
be side 1 on an LP, was recorded live at The Prancing Pony inn at Bree.
We get a first hand taste of the Inn's popular common room, with dwarves,
hobbits, and patrons of other sorts joining in the singing, shouting requests,
harassing the band members, and generally enjoying themselves. This
section of the album contains ballads, that is songs that tell stories like the
creepy tale of "The Old Troll and the Maiden," and lively drinking songs such
as "The King's Beer and "Dwarf and Orc."

The second part contains studio recordings, more reflective and complex
works such as "The Last Ship" and "This Fading Age." The album has a Folk
sound except for one track, "Sweet Goldberry," which has the signature GH
sound. This exuberant and sensitive song tells of the love between Tom
Bombadil and Goldberry, the River Woman's daughter.

As always, the musicianship on this GH album is superb and the vocal work
fine. We hear not only from Fred Schendle, Steve Babb and Walter Moore,
but also from Suzy Warren, Felicia Sorenson and Sarah Snider, each of
whom do very nice solo work.

Both the music and the lyrics on this album are infectious, and you'll find
yourself humming the tunes and returning often to this blending of two mythic
worlds, that of Glass Hammer and that of Middle-earth.

What an odd little album this is! Unlike their first Tolkien themedalbum (Journey of the Dunadan), Glass Hammer's _The Middle-Earth_ album doesn't try to retell the story of the Lord of the Rings. Rather, the various songs here are original creations that are intended to be songs that *might* be sung by the inhabitants of Middle-Earth... and by patrons of the Inn of the Prancing Pony (in the town of Bree) in particular. In fact, the first dozen songs or so are recorded so as to sound like they're actually being performed live, in a noisy inn-- there's hand-clapping, crowd noises, and even some slightly rough-sounding singing along. These tracks have a very folksy sound to them, with lots of British Isles folk instruments, although there's also a good deal of harpsicord (you don't find those in inns very often!) The subject matter of these tunes are fantastic and makes reference to things and character's in Tolkien's world, but they're not strictly based on events or songs that Tolkien himself wwrote. These songs all tend to have a fairly light-hearted, silly, playful feel to them, (e.g. there's a song about a Dwarf stealing the Goblin King's beer).... perhaps more in the spirit of the songs you find in the Hobbit and the very first part of Lord of the Rings (cf. Tolkien's "Troll Song")-- there's nothing here that compares to the more serious character of other Tolkien songs/poems (e.g. "The Lay of Nimrodel, "Boromir's Lament", etc.). A few of the closing songs, like "Sweet Goldberry" are done with more typical Glass Hammer prog-lite arrangements-- including electric keyboards-- and shed the folksy quality. All in all, it's not bad for folks seeking an album inspired by the lighter side of Tolkien's writing-- but non-Tolkien fans can probably give this a pass. Those looking for a musical Tolkien tribute that's more varied-- and that uses Tolkien's own songs rather than inventing new ones, might prefer Broceliande's _The Starlit Jewel_, however.

I have been a fan of The Lord of the Rings for years. So it was with a liitle apprehension that I purchased this CD. I have never heard of Glass Hammer but the titles of the songs interest me. To be honest, I'm not knowledgable of the current music stars, must to my nephew's digust. It was the best money I have ever spend. I was at the Prancing Pony listening to this wonderful music. The song "Elrenn and Endereth" reminds me of the tale of Luthien Tinuvil and Beren. My favorite is "The King's Beer". It's a quick lively tune. Maybe King Elessar did return to the Prancing Pony and enjoyed a mug of beer.

I first picked up "Lex Rex" and "Shadowlands" by Glass Hammer and was instantly hooked, being an old fan of bands like Yes and Renaissance. I avoided picking up "The Middle Earth Album", however; I was afraid it would be too silly. Cautiously, I visited Glass Hammer's web site and downloaded the sampler MP3 and wasn't particularly impressed. But eventually, for completeness, I got "The Middle Earth Album". What a pleasant surprise! The first half of the album is "recorded live" at the Prancing Pony Inn, and is lots of fun - you soon find yourself singing along and tapping your feet. The second half of the album was different, more traditional progressive rock, but still delightfully good.

"The Last Ship" is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard. "Mithrandir" is a good version of "This Fading Age" from their previous album "On To Evermore". And "Sweet Goldberry" is probably my favorite song on the entire album. It closes with the comedic "No Crown For Balin", which made me laugh out loud when I listened to the lyrics.

The weakest points on the album are "Man In the Wood" and "Mirkwood". That is not to say that they are bad - far from it! They're just not as fantastic as the rest of the songs.

Bravo, Glass Hammer!