Customer Reviews

The Red Thread

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3 star:		(2)
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I didn't know Lucy had a new album until it was recommended to me after placing another order. I'm glad for the recommendation, because it's a wonderful album, perhaps her best yet, and I would hate to have missed it.

Lucy recently adopted a Chinese orphan. She explains in the liner notes that the title "The Red Thread" comes from an ancient Chinese belief that when a child is born, invisible red threads reach out from its spirit to all the important people who will be part of its life. This album is about the threads that bind her to others, and all of us to each other.

The first song, "I Had Something," and "This Is Home" are most directly about the adoption of her daughter. "Line in the Sand" discusses the Palestinan-Israeli conflict without taking sides and could be about any number of troubled places in the world. Some of the other songs reflect on September 11, at least I interpret them that way. And it makes sense. That event, looming so large on the national and world consciousness, caused so many of us to think about our relationships, personal and otherwise. I don't know if Lucy is still in New York, but I know she started her singing career there. In some ways, the album seems like a love song to the city with new songs like "Brooklyn Train" and covers like "Love Song/New York."

The song most directly about 9/11 is "Land of the Living." When I first read the lyrics, I thought to myself, yes, that is what it was like. She captures the chaos, the sadness, and even the racism, that existed in NYC after 9/11 with details like the flowers at the fire stations and the posters asking for information on missing persons. It's a deeply affecting song.

And a deeply affecting album. And not heavy. There are fun songs, covers like "Off and Running" and "Cowboy Singer." There is the obligatory honky-tonk song (there always seems to be at least one on her albums, and I have yet to like any of them), but despite that, it's beautiful through and through.

When I first listened to this album, I thought it was OK. The lyrics were strong and intelligent and the singing and musicianship just a bit above average.

Now I've had the album, for a while, I started wondering why it's become one of the most played in our home. Basically, the emotion and intelligence gets under your skin. Lucy Kaplansky's voice is pleasant and warm, the instrumentation supportive and very professional and the lyrics are pure poetry.

I recommend the CD highly.

I had never heard or heard of Lucy Kaplansky until "The Land of the Living" was played on NPR 9/11/2004. I was so moved by the song I emailed the program and got information about the singer and songwriter. After visiting Lucy's website I ordered this CD from amazon.com really not caring what the other songs were like, knowing that "The Land of the Living" was worth the price. Once the CD arrived I immediately put it on my iPod and began getting to know all the songs. All of the songs are great. They improve with each listening as I hear more in the stories. This is music that will be with me for a long time.

I bought this CD at the Boston Folk Festival after seeing Lucy perform for the first time. The songs are intelligent, thoughtful, vunerable, sensitive and really speak to me. I relate better to her songs about 9-11 than others I have heard by other artists. After hearing her speak on stage about her daughter and husband I was very moved by the songs about the process of making her family complete by adopting a Chinese orphan. Several of the songs can bring tears to my eyes and the faster songs are upbeat and catchy. The musicianship is first rate. I'm very glad I was introduced to Lucy Kaplansky - she's a gem!

For those of us with an affection for live acoustic music, Lucy's shows are always a treat. She writes wonderful songs, puts her personality right out there where the audience can find it, and then plays and sings with simplicity and heart. Therefore, my hopes for this CD were that we would get the real Lucy, without overwrought production. This satisfies that hope, and then goes beyond. The vocals are clear, the instruments add spice and dimension, and the harmonies are just enough to round out the sound. This one is really, really good.

Arguably the best of what has already been a superb career. Some may say this collection is more commercial and radio-friendly than her folk outings of the past but, to me, it just seems more realized, mature and emotionally satisfying. I immediatly felt at home with almost every track on the cd. If you're new to Lucy's music, start here, then go back and discover her from the beginning.

I agree - a wonderful album. Mature, beautiful, and accessible lyrics with nice acoustics. A nice complement, in my opinion, to similar high quality music from the likes of Dar Williams, Patty Griffin, Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, Kasey Chambers, etc.

In my opinion THE RED THREAD by Lucy Kaplansky blows ever other CD in any genre complete out of the water for CD's release in 2004. But because it was release so early in the year it's going to be overlooked by many including the Grammy Awards who gave it no mention in there nominations last week. This CD deals with the emotional effects caused by 9-11, Lucy hit you right in the gut with "Land of the Living" and the emptiness in Brooklyn Train. And although it's been almost a full 12 months since it's release the cover of Dave Carter's "Cowboy Singer" still gives me chills. Take my advice buy this disk it powerful, brilliant, incredible as I said the best of 2004

For an understated as the album is at first listen, the emotional whallop and clarity is remarkable. Even after owning the album for a year, it is difficult for me to listen to without breaking out in tears when "Red Thread" comes on. Making this sort of emotional connection is a gift. I suggest you share in it.

Beautiful! Lucy's latest CD "The Red Thread" is an emotional gem. What a storyteller, Land of the Living, I Had Something, The Red Thread, This is Home, etc. they will make you think, they will make you sing. As any Lucy fan will testify, buy any Lucy CD and you will end up with the collection. Thanks Lucy.