Customer Reviews

Out of the Blue

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Their uncanny ability to master many musical styles has been honed to its finest on this album. Annie, Jeannie and Marie tell their stories through folk, country, bluegrass, pop, blues and gospel tunes. Yet their signature three-part harmony and rotating lead vocals keeps them sounding unmistakeably original.

The album starts with the tongue-in-cheek pop anthem "God Made Woman". This has been a crowd-pleaser at their concerts for over a year, and it's wonderful to finally have it available on CD. I laughed out loud the first time I heard it, and I bet you'll at least smile. The CD ends with the a capella "Prayer of St. Francis" which gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it.

In between, the Sisters deal with the search for meaning ("Something Real"), rising above misfortune ("Bedrock") but most of all, real love: the sweetest love, the wished-for love, the lost love, the forbidden love, the love that might have been, the love that ruins everything, and the "let's get away from the kids and go out dancing love". Every one of these songs touches a place in my heart that still yearns, burns or aches.

If there's a roadblock in the way of their success, it could be their versatility. You can't pin them down to a single style or label. I think this has been what's kept their following to a small base of fiercely loyal fans. Too bad. If any band deserves to be famous, it's the Burns Sisters.

Yet there's no hint of bitterness here. Perhaps Marie's "Bedrock" best sums up their attitude: "life can be rough, but I can be tough... I keep my eyes on the sunny side". They've kept their energy positive, making beautfiul music since the mid-80's. Out Of The Blue is their most impressive recording yet. If you give it a spin it will live in your CD player for weeks and weeks.

Out of the Blue" was the FIRST CD of the Burns Sisters I acquired for my music library after seeing them for the first time at the Club Passim in Cambridge, MA. Since then, I have actually worked backwards, with the exception of their recent solo releases, in adding ALL of their CD's to my collection. With them for me, it is musically, a NEVER ENDING STORY.
This continues to be my VERY FAVORITE of their releases, and I think their very best, indeed. This summer is three years since I first saw them at Club Passim, and I'm still as in love with and as in awe of them as performers and as three wonderful ladies as I was that first night.
There's a touch of rock n'roll, a bit of blue grass, gentle love ballads, and a vein of pure folk running through the fabric of these tunes. It is rockin' n' rolicking, tender and sweet, and a most haunting patchwork quilt of music.
"God Made Woman" and "Bedrock" kick some solid and serious folky [tush] out there for digesting, particularly Jeannie Burns' powerful, bluesy and torchy moments, with Marie and Annie providing a back-up that is equally as energetic.
"Longtime", "With I Never Met You," "Something Real" and "Out of the Blue" pull at the heartstrings. These songs tell of the many facets of love, the title song in particular being so beautiful anyone would want to claim it for their very own love song.
My very favorite on the whole CD is "The Prayer of St.

Francis", written by none other than Saint Francis of Assissi, the Catholic patron saint of animals and ecology, and was set to music by someone in the mid 16th century A.D. It is powerful, yet gentle, simple yet complex, and is rendered hauntingly and exquisitely by a blend of three of the most beautiful voices on the planet. After I've concluded playing the CD, "Prayer of St. Francis" being the last of twelve songs in the collection, I
play this particular piece of music over and over. It just chills me in the deepest spiritual way and tears well up in my eyes with the need to hear it over and over again.
On a recent trip to the Berkshires of western Massachusetts to see Mikael Barishnikov perform at Jacob's Pillow, my husband and I were strolling about the grounds during intermission. We came upon a large boulder with a brass plaque that read "In Memorium to John Fitzgerald Kennedy", and the words beneath were the "Prayer of St. Francis of Assissi" printed out in its entirity with St. Francis' name at its end. We hugged and cried for joy as we thought of Annie, Jeannie and Marie Burns doing the song in concerts; as the spotlight sets their faces aglow on stage, they seem to look like a choir of three angels.
In conclusion, there isn't enough to be said about these one-of-a-kind, unique and exquisite ladies. Whether singing solo, or the beautiful blend of their trio, they are like the colors of the most beautiful rainbow. Their stage presence is fantastic, and runs from their totally hilarious banter and antics to loving and serious moments when they speak of the world in which we live, or their family, friends and pets. They deserve national attention and adoration for their music, and I hope they break into being nationally recognized for their exquisite talent very soon.
Every Burns Sisters' fan and folkmusic afficionado should own this gem of a CD.

This is my favorite album of this group to date. Always hard to categorize, the music of the Burns Sisters is full of beautiful harmonies, at times soul-searching, at times rockin' and funny. "When God Made a Woman" is hilarious, and shows their sense of humor. "Prayer of St. Francis" is deeply touching. I love the way the sisters' vocals complement each other so perfectly, and their three-part harmonies twine in and out of each other so beautifully. Crosby Stills and Nash had nothing on these women!

Go Burns Sisters! We LOVED this one!

I just listened to my copy of "Out of the Blue", the new long awaited release from the Burns Sisters. It has been well worth the wait, as it is a beautiful, soulful, down to earth and uplifting...I can't stop listening....Thank you burns Sisters....

Out Of The Blue represents a Burns Sisters compilation with two distinct deliveries. Annie uses her strong vocals to create lively arrangements with a kick. Bedrock and Two Step Recipe stand out among the selections in this category. Marie's gentle lead vocals are surrounded by sweet harmonies that attract me with purity and honesty. She melodically carries the listener through love ballads that touch the heart -- I Love You Anyway, For Your Love, Out Of The Blue and Wish I Never Met You. The hauntingly beautiful rendition of Prayer Of St. Francis will echo through your soul long after the music stops. This CD will grow on you with repeated listenings.

I really only bought this CD for the last song the prayer of St Francis, which is outstanding the rest of the CD is nice but not my genre of music

Ever since I first heard the "Burns Sisters" back in 1992, I fell in love with their fascinating tunes, with the ambiance they create at their concerts through the unique "Burns-esque" charisma and energy, and with the life and the "burning" love surrounding them. Since then I've bought each and every of their CD's which they released over time, either as the "Burns Sisters" or as individuals (Marie, Annie, and Jeannie all have their own wonderful and fabulous recordings; check outwww.burnssisters.com). As I got to learn more about their music and genre, I realized that they haven't really been musical trendsetters: they are the trend champions in what has already been described as "the best of rock & roll, Irish folk, new country, and jazzy/sacred gospel".

All songs are intelligent and uplifting, and I love every song on "Out of the Blue"; they are CLASSIC, with CLASS, yet different and not run of the mill artists. This CD is rather more "pop" than their previous recordings, and very beautiful, if you are prepared to open your hearts and souls to the songs.

"Out of the Blue" is the best album of their careers--indeed, the best album I've heard. "God made Woman" is the unsurpassed song of a lifetime, resonating in one's soul hours and days (and nights) after you've heard it the first time. It reminds me the story of "The Bridge Across Forever", a great book by Richard Bach: the song almost literally builds a bridge across your innermost self, from your heart to your own soul. I abandon myself to the incredible lyrics and tune and seem to find my very own soulmate in the colors and waves and emotions and grandiosity of the composition. Other songs are also special, ranging from the rain-track-clacking drum loops churning under citrusy trance ("Bedrock") to the lyrically introspected somewhat love song-type ("Never be Mine"). Again, instead of exploiting an of-the-moment subgenre, they immortalize it. And in doing so, they simultaneously draw massive mainstream attention to a deserving class of dance music and raises the bar for the Top 10 CD's of the new Millenium. The CD ends with a yet unsurpassed version of the Prayer of St. Fancis (which could have been a song in their earlier CD, entitled "Traditions"; that recording too, undisputedly, is unique, or SUPERB as correctly described by the San Francisco Chronicle when it was first released a few years ago; also a must in any-ones CD collection).

OK... I know the editorial review here had comments regarding some of the lyrics. Yeah, the ones sampled were cliche. However, I still found the words to be truthful and heartfelt. It isn't what they say as much as how they say it.

You simply can't help but smile at "When God Made Woman (He Knew His Work Was Done)". And many a woman will find this song a rare treat from the music industry in that it speaks of our own power and passion.

"Bedrock" is an incredible blues song that lets Jeannie cut loose and remind us all that this woman has some *serious* pipes.

"Prayer of St. Francis" is hauntingly beautiful. I am hoping that they decide to keep the trend and give us at least one a capella song on each new cd. Personally, I would go for 1/2 the cd to be a capella. Nothing else displays the incredible talent of these women as well.

As a side note, I have always been impressed with their timing and precision... but never so much as I when I see them live. To witness them perform "No More Silence" without even *glancing* at each other for queues, and hit each note in perfect synchronicity as if all three were one voice... well, let's just say that genetics *has* to play a role.

I'll give this CD my highest rating... but I'll state honestly that, as wonderful as it is, nothing beats the Burns Sisters live.

I just listened to my copy of "Out of the Blue", the new long awaited release from the Burns Sisters. It has been well worth the wait, as it is a beautiful, soulful, down to earth and uplifting...I can't stop listening....Thank you Burns Sisters....

This album is so like comforting. I don't know what's up with people who rate this album with 4 stars it deserves all stars. What struck me about this cd is how it's feel and sound was very different than the earlier Burns Sisters CD's. It blew me away. By far their best todate.

The lyrics and music are really, really, great, you just know this music must just like come right out of their lives. Can you tell I'm a big fan. "Prayer to Saint Francis" makes me cry too ..really ....

Me and my friends went to the Lilith concert a year ago and The Burns Sisters can blow half of them away..really ...... I love the song "God Made Woman" when I saw them live ..like 5 times ..

The girls are real. No like put-on's. What you see is what you get . I'm 19 and me and my friends all dig them. They are like hipper than hippies ..if you know what I mean.

do yourself a favor ..buy this CD ..