Customer Reviews

Mule to Ride

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

At the Telluride Festival last month, I was fortunate to hear Tara and her husband, Jim Miller (both members of the jam band DONNA THE BUFFALO), Dirk Powell, and Tim O'Brien, perform/jam at an Old Time workshop. From the front row I heard these purveyors of Traditional Music. Talk about ear candy!! I thought I'd died and gone the great hearafter. I'd known about Dirk and Tim previously, but not about Tara and Jim. Now it's time everyone does. It seems that this electric rock band DONNA THE

BUFFALO is filled with OLD TIME musicians! After the workshop was over, I hastened yonder to the festival's cd tent, and quickly purchased Tara's cd and one by Jim Miller that they only sell at their concerts, called Herd I'm Drinkin' which I would characterize as the one Gram Parsons always wanted to make, but didn't live long enough to. On Tara's disc, she bows some great fiddle strings, whilst Jim does most of the vocals. There are many songs on this disc that will inspire the lame to dance, the crippled to rise up and grab a partner, and the blind to see the light. This folks, is real down home music, the stuff that runs in all our veins, the kind that is about pure spirit and wholesome energy that will change your life. and go see DONNA THE BUFFALO next time they are in your area, so you can feel the charge they give, and buy Jim's disc while you're there.

Tara Nevins is a brilliant fiddler who also has a lovely singing voice. The only regret I have is that she only uses it on five songs, more often relying on husband Jim Miller for vocals. However, this is but a minor point. Jim is a fine singer, and the musicianship from all concerned is abolutely semsational. You couldn't fall asleep listening to this.

The album is full of contrasts, not just with different voices, but some great instrumentals and a variety of tempos and moods, but generally an upbeat, energetic album which will provide new delights with every listen. To make it even greater value, there are twenty tracks (rare for an album of new recordings) with a running time of about an hour. The quantity in no way dilutes the quality, which never drops.

This is a brilliant album from Tara, who is also (with her husband) a member of Donna the Buffalo.

I bought this CD because I like Donna the Buffalo quite a bit. At first I was disappointed that it was entirely old-time (not newgrass), but I have been won over by the directness and accomplishment of the playing and the honesty of the vocals. Jim Miller (Tara's husband) does a lot of the singing and he's got a great country voice. Tara gets to really rip on the fiddle in a way that she is not called upon to do within Donna the Buffalo songs. This album is a good introduction to one of the types of traditional music that inpires DTB songs (another obviously being zydeco). If you have never listened to old-time, then pick up this disc and you might want to hear more ... from people you have never heard of.

This CD is a revelation -- it's a side of Tara Nevins that doesn't really come through in her excellent Donna the Buffalo work. It's a communal effort, with Tara simply joining the ensemble on a number of tracks. On others, her rip-roaring fiddle playing and beautiful, haunting singing are simply magnificent. It's a more than generous amount of music, and the most captivating CD I've listened to in a very long time.

As a fan of old time bluegrass music I really enjoy this cd. Nevins and the rest of the musicians (including Dr. Ralph) have done a wonderful job in their interpretation of old favorites like Rocky Island, John Henry and my personal favorite Troubles. I also grew to really appreciate the more country music inspired songs written by Nevins, which also appear on the cd. Over My Shoulder is particularly touching. Although at first these songs were somewhat unexpected, she has a wonderful voice and songwriting abilities.

If you know her music from the group "Donna the Buffalo", this is an interesting departure. One worth visiting!This collection of Old Time Country Music does lack in technical quality. Vocals are buried in the instruments and the EQ curve is notibly flat by current standards.On the other hand, if you like Tara Nevens' song writting ability and great fiddle playing from "Donna..", you will continue to be impressed by her 'from the heart' style! Track 20, an instrumental, is by far the best track on this CD.

Can't say as I've been much of a fan of fiddler Tara Nevin's Dead-ish stoner-billy band, Donna The Buffalo, but this solo album is rock solid from beginning to end. It's heavy on the traditional bluegrass for the first half, and then she starts sneaking in some great country tunes, most of which she wrote herself. Guest include Ralph Stanley (of course), Mike Seeger, Don Rigsby, and some soulful vocals by Jim Miller, her bandmate from Donna The Buffalo. Nice record! Recommended.

I was listening to this CD this morning again after a long time and it inspired me to comment.

Donna the Buffalo always mentions they have their roots in Old Timey music but they never really play any of it in concert.

I used to really like the music Tara Nevins made in the Heartbeats and in some ways this is an extension of it, maybe even more polished.

A lot of the reviews are calling the music bluegrass but really most of it is Old Time and the rest sort of country or rockabilly.

The best tunes are the ones that ARE heavily Old Timey like Fall on my Knees, I love the string band treatment of Sitting on Top of the World, Raleigh and Spencer is both sung and played great. Definatly a dancing record.

The question I have always asked myself when I hear this album is when will she come out with another? Or when will Donna The Buffalo surprise us with an old timey album?

I'd give this 5 stars except for the tunes with the drums.

If you are a music lover and especially if you like fiddle or bluegrass, you will love this effort by Donna the Buffalos' Tara Nevins-finely crafted and hugely uplifting music to float your boat into the 21st century. Many fine guests. A hell of a selection of cuts, its one of my favorite discoveries of last year...this is really a 5 star effort, but TOO much hype will spoil the effect. MORE, please!

One of the most refreshing bluegrass albums I've heard in quite a while. Lots of energy & enthusiasm, very raw, and straight-forward (although a bit rushed at times) playing.

Not to mention, Ralph Stanley and Mike Seeger guest appear!