Customer Reviews

North Country

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In a growing genre crowded with talent, the Rankin Family is arguably the best C3 (Contemporary Canadian Celtic) group around. And North Country is their best album. The song writing is inspired and the varied voices of the brothers and sisters, from husky to sweet, knit together beautifully to create a warm, richly textured hour of music.

By the way, it's worth trying to catch the Rankin Family in concert. The sisters bang out a mean step dance.

I first heard the Rankins when I was living in Canada with my husband (he's from Nova Scotia). I loved their music at first hearing, and this album only grows better with each listening. As a family with Irish blood all through, and with a husband who loves all things Arcadian, this is a classic for us. Don't hesitate, you'll love the lush harmonies and fabulous vocalizations!

This album really sets your feet tapping; these people have honed their skills before many audiences in Nova Scotia. I don't usually care for the English songs done by Capercaillie but the English songs of the Rankins are melodic and powerful. They need more tutoring with Gaelic language but they understand Gaelic music as they grew up in a region where thousands of Scottish Highlanders have settled.

I became a Rankin fan a few months back when I happened upon a PBS concert special on TV. What an incredibly talented family. Their music reaches your soul. This CD happens to be my favorite. I could play it over and over and over and over........ Buy it and fall in love. Unfortunately they are no longer touring together.

This is a suberb CD. The Rankins can lift you up, and can break your heart. I bought this CD after hearing the Rankins on a Chieftains CD. I'm so glad I did. "Rise Again", especially, almost always moves me to tears. Just beautiful.

This is easily the best work available from this wonderfully talented Canadian group. Their other albums are, to put it mildly, uneven, but every cut on this one is a winner (with the possible exception of "Grey Dusk of Eve.") There's enough variety in the material that you don't get tired of it, and you'll find this album logging lots of spin time. Four of the five Rankins are incredible vocalists, and the harmonies alone are worth the price of the disk. (Check out "Fare Thee Well, Love" and "Borders and Time.") Add to this the abilities that all five have as songwriters (though not all write on this album) and you have a marvelously entertaining listening experience.

A friend from Canada sent me a cassette of this several years back, and I found it wonderfully haunting in it's arrangement and lyrics. If you like Gaelic music done with an English twist, and enjoy good lyrics set to a Gaelic beat, then I would highly recommend this CD. (I would give the Chieftans about 3 stars because their music gets kind of boring after awhile, while tracks on this CD are anything but redundant.)

I bought this blind. I love this CD. It is true chicken skin music! It is addictive. The songs are haunting. I love making a new discovery. All I can say is take a chance on something you have never heard before.

The Rankin Family is the obvious choice for pure celtic music unadulterated by commercial input. If you love celtic fiddling and guitar, it is here as well!

This CD does not play the last 3 songs; it skips and has blank spots. The CD was advertised as excellent condition.