Moving Up Country

James Yorkston, James Yorkston And the Athletes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 10, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Domino
• ASIN: B000068FTA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #331,241 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Personnel includes: James Yorkston (vocals); Sun Li (vocals, violin); Holly (mandolin, whistle, small pipes); Reuben (piano); Dougie (bass); Faisal (drums). PREVIEW :Q (8/02, p.134) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Hooray for fey-free folk..."Mojo (7/02, p.96) - "...A lovely lilting album..."Magnet (10/02, p.110) - "...It's a cultural tangle, to be sure, and one Yorkston shows he's capable of pulling off..."NME (6/1/02, p.38) - 8 out of 10 - "...James Yorkston is a folk musician from Scotland. Realistically this suggests that the only way he'd make it into the pages of NME was if he smacked one of the Strokes over the head with a banjo. But his debut album, sweetly but firmly demolishes your preconceptions..."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy This Album!!, November 29, 2002

By 

Kerry Lamb (Dublin, Eire.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moving Up Country (Audio CD)

I first saw James and his Athletes supporting David Gray in Dublin. I was really impressed - it was an unusual choice of support, but the songs stood out for themselves. I bought a copy of "moving up country" on the way out of the gig, and it's been my "discovery" of the year. 3 of the songs they played are on this album - "Tender to the blues", "Sweet Jesus" and "6:30 is just way too early". Each one is a pure marvel, but why they didn't play "St. Patrick" (from the album) is beyond me, it has to be the most beautiful song i've heard for years. Even my boyfriend admits to liking it!
I strongly recommend you buy this album and fall in love. it's my most rewarding purchase since "White Ladder"
bye!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't stop listening, April 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Moving Up Country (Audio CD)

I have had this CD since last fall but pulled it out again after I saw James Yorkston perform in NY earlier this week. If you like Nick Drake but want something that sounds more hopeful, James Yorkston is it.
There's really gorgeous, gentle arrangements that are delicate as air and continue my love of contemporary Scottish bands. Acoustic guitar, harmonium, piano, violin and percussion form the background but Yorkston's got this soft plaintive voice that's heartfelt and sincere.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing Quite Like It, September 12, 2002

By 

Carlo Matthews "carlo" (Been Moving Around) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moving Up Country (Audio CD)

Hailed by every important music publication in the UK as a breakthrough, this album easily lives up to the praise it has garnered so far. Irresitstibly subtle and poignant, the music sails confidently over a deep sea of understated but dramatic arrangements that betray the moving power of folk and visionary writing. With compositional touches that share spectacular yet quiet elements of classic rock at it best (a la Pink Floyd) and disarmingly engaging singer-songwriter atmospheres (a la Nick Drake), "Moving Up Country" is a must for anyone in search of a musical landscape fashioned out of personal idioms and ambitious artistic ideals. Not one to give five stars easily, I am left with no option in a case like this.