Customer Reviews

Rarities, B-Sides and Slow, Sad Waltzes

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Last Cowboy Junkies recording to date, RARITIES, B-SIDES AND SLOW, SAD WALTZES will not deceive the fans of the canadian band. First song of the CD, " I Saw Your Shoes " has got the fastest tempo you will ever find in a song of the Cowboy Junkies, it's a rock song and Margo Timmins... rocks. Second surprise of the album, Bob Dylan's " If You Gotta Go, Go Now ! " . Hear the only drum solo of Peter Timmins in the CJ career. OK, it lasts only three seconds and reminded me of the unvaluable efforts of another discreet drummer - Ringo Starr - but it's worth hearing.

Like in MILES FROM OUR HOME, their precedent recording, there is an hidden song at the end of the album. Let run your player after the tenth track " The Water Is Wide " and, after 30 seconds, you will hear Bruce Springsteen's " My Father's House " sung by Margo and.... the rest of the band for the last seconds. A curiosity.

The album presents a smart mixture of songs of the early period of the Band - the slow ones - and of the post LAY IT DOWN years - the not so slow ones -. Released after a relatively deceiving MILES FROM OUR HOME, RARITIES, B-SIDES AND SLOW, SAD WALTZES marks the end of 15 years of great music and I can only hope that the Cowboy Junkies will be able to offer us new musical trips as fascinating as those they have already released.

A CD for your library.

Before listening I assumed this collection would be true to it's title. B-sides are there for a purpose after all. But it is so good it has turned into one of my favorite Junkies albums. There is a hopefulness to this collection sometimes missing from the studio albums. And I sense a more upbeat attitude. Not that I don't love the melancholy of the other albums, that's what drew me to the Junkies. But this is such a nice change of pace, when I always play it I can't help but get into a good mood, no matter what. This does prove Cowboy Junkies can do no wrong. Definitely worth the effort!

As an album of rarities and b-sides,this album, IMHO, ranks up there with the Junkies' other great albums, "THE TRINITY SESSIONS," "BLACK-EYED MAN," and "PALE SUN, CRESCENT MOON." The album is a celebration of all the makes the Junkies' music great; melancholy (5 Room Love Story, To Lay Me Down), haunting (Sad to See The Season Go); rollicking (If You Gotta Go and I Saw Your Shoes), and just downright gorgeous (The Water is Wide and the unnamed Track 11). For anyone who fancies themselves an appreciator of music, this album belongs in your music collection right beside your BEATLES, WHO, PINK FLOYD and whomever else you consider great. For true Junkies junkies, this album is a necessity.

I'll be blunt: this is the best disk I've ever purchased, and some of the finest music I've ever heard. Every song on it is a winner. I bought this disk back in 1999 and still 3 years later find myself pulling it out to get a 'fix'. Simply excellent music.

What an album! As usual, the high emotion, caressing melodies and playful alternatives reinforce the incredible talent of the band. I was lucky enough to have the chance to hear several of the songs from the album live under the stars at a winery in California; seeing the intensity and love they felt for the songs only served to foster my appreciation for the album all the more. I love the way they can touch on the "sads" and "happies" of life in one song, reminding us that things are not always black and white, but a little from the whole spectrum. Beautiful!

With "Rarities, B-Sides and Slow, Sad Waltzes," the Cowboy Junkies take their fans on a trip back to the sound the group had years ago.

"I Saw Your Shoes" has a nice, grungy guitar track, but most of these songs could easily have fit on "The Trinity Sessions" or "The Caution Horses." Lyrically speaking, "Rarities" has a few clunkers, and there are a couple of tunes that understandably hit the cutting room floor from other sessions. However, there are also some wonderful gems in this package. "Sad to See the Season Go" has a beautiful melody to it, and "A Few Simple Words" is as fresh and sincere as "Anniversary Song" off of "Pale Sun, Crescent Moon." Other highlights include "Love's Still There" and "River Waltz." And "Leaving Normal" is one of the best things Michael Timmins has ever written. The finest feature about this band, however, remains the cool but passionate voice of Margo Timmins, who manages to make even the occasional awkward turn of phrase sound heartfelt and real. Praise Margo! Long may the Junkies live.

This new release by Cowboy Junkies confirm that they are one of the best bands in the world (for those who already didn't know that). Songs - which we can only find as bonus on promo releases or be stuck in movies or tributes are now available on their own label Latent Recordings and they are simply the best. Covers by Dylan or Grateful Dead opens the new vision of their music, especially a cappela soundcheck (hidden track) My Fathers House by Bruce Springsteen shows great atmosphere and understanding inside the band and roadies. This CD complete history of the band and is must have for all CY fans. I hope for more releases like this one because there's still a lot of hidden songs by the band like Hot Buritto Nb.1, Tired Eyes, Lungs, Carmelita, In the Long Run...

A new release from Cowboy Junkies is always eagerly anticipated, but the "Rarities" collection is a particularly fine CD. It is hard to believe that these tracks did NOT make it on to previous CD's for whatever the reason; there isn't a loser among them. Margo's voice--as always--sounds angelic. The variety of the tracks is another great aspect of this CD. "I Saw Your Shoes" gets the CD off to a rocking start; while the traditional "The Water Is Wide" closes the CD on a melancholy note--but not really, as there is an unlisted eleventh track that also stands out. I must confess: I like this even more than the Junkies last Geffen release. However, as this CD proves, Cowboy Junkies create better, more satifying music than most other groups ever even hope to release. This CD is in my personal top ten.

It's toned down, relaxed, and minimally produced. It's like having the band in your house for a jam session, and contains some of their best tracks.

Very good music for Sunday morning. slow to medium tempo. the lead singer has a very nice soothing voice.