Renmin Park

Cowboy Junkies | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Razor & Tie
• ASIN: B003H6Z0O0
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,189 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

In late 2008, my family and I were given an opportunity to spend three months in China. Renmin Park is a reflection of my family's adventure in China. It's a fictional love story about two people whose two worlds will forever keep them apart.

It's a thank-you letter to an obscure city and the people who opened up their lives to five very strange strangers. It's a document about a bewilderingly complex culture that is, once again, experiencing a massive upheaval. It's another chapter in a band's ongoing twenty-five year journey.
- Michael Timmins (March 2010)

Michael became enamored with the original Chinese music to which he was exposed as well as the sounds he encountered in everyday life. Both of these elements led to the creation of the latest Cowboy Junkies album, Remnin Park. Two of the artists that he became attached to were Zuoxiao Zuzhou (ZXZZ) and Xu Wei and the band covers songs by each on Renmin Park (ZXZZ's "I Cannot Sit Sadly By Your Side" and Xu Wei's "My Fall"). In addition, ZXZZ contributes an original lyric and vocal performance to "A Walk In The Park." Field recordings Timmins made of everything from street sounds to badminton games to children in the classroom are incorporated into a number of songs.

For 25 years, Cowboy Junkies have remained true to their unique artistic vision and to the introspective, quiet intensity that is their musical signature, creating a body of original work that has been critically acclaimed and has endeared them to an audience unwavering in its loyalty. Albums like The Trinity Session (1988), The Caution Horses (1990), Black Eyed Man (1992), Pale Sun, Crescent Moon (1993), Lay It Down (1996) and more recently, Open (2001), One Soul Now (2004), Early 21st Century Blues (2005) and At the End of Paths Taken (2007) chronicle their singular creative journey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong and Original, June 14, 2010

By 

John E (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Renmin Park (MP3 Download)

Renmin Park is a step outside of the box for the Cowboy Junkies. Inspired by a months-long family stay in China, songwriter and lead guitarist Michael Timmons returned home with newfound sounds and ideas for his band. And just as with most experimental concept albums, not all of it works. But when it does...it soars. For the dearly devoted, relish this new, interesting entry in the Junkie's catalog in its entirety. For everyone else, buy this record simply for "(You've Got To Get) A Good Heart" > "Cicadas" > "My Fall" > "Little Dark Heart" --as it might be the best sequence of songs they've ever done. A straight solid 20+ minutes of terrific new music. Other highlights include the bittersweet title track, the mournful "A Few Bags of Grain" and the rocking, radio-friendly single "Stranger Here". For my money, though, the best of the lot is "My Fall"; a cover song translated from Chinese into what I believe is one of their best songs -ever. A gorgeous, romantic, and enormously catchy track that shows the band at their very best.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Throw away your ipod for this one..., June 17, 2010

By 

RXUYDC "RXUYDC" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Renmin Park (Audio CD)

Even more so than other Cowboy Junkie albums, this is an album that needs listening to to enjoy. This is not background music. The sound is very complex, and I made the mistake of listening to it on my computer, and then my ipod, and was inclined to agree with the two star reviews given here. Then I played the CD on a decent system with quality speakers and was blown away. This is really enjoyable, interesting and adventurous album that builds on the CJ's previous body of work. In its own way it is as distinctive as The Trinity Sessions was when it was first released. Just sit and really listen to it, ideally with the CD rather than MP3. No tinny speakers or ipod headphones please.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Album, June 17, 2010

By 

Paul Wheelock (Syracuse, New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Renmin Park (Audio CD)

The only unfortunate part of this CD is that it is unlikely to be heard by a very large number of people. The Cowboy Junkies have always been a band with a strongly dedicated cult following, who appreciate their musical excellence. So many of their CD's (Trinity, Lay It Down, Black-Eyed Man, Pale Sun Crescent Moon) contain impressively great music. Now comes Renmin Park. Michael Timmins and the band prove that after 20+ years, they just continue to grow and expand musically. It is easy to give this CD a quick listen and dismiss it, but with careful listening, it reveals musical and lyrical depth rarely heard. The musical experimentation and success absolutely parallels such standards as Sgt. Pepper and Who's Next. I have such respect for this band, that I compare all other music to what this band produces. What other band or musician (except for possibly Van Morrison) is putting out excellent music after more than 20 years? They will put out 4 CD's in the next 18 months. Most artists after 20 years put out one album every 7 to 10 years. This is a great band and Michael Timmins is a first rate musician and composer dedicated to making this a first rate band (which it is). The CD has a couple bizarre moment (Into, A Walk in the Park), but with 10 sparkling gems on the CD from Renmin Park through Little Dark Heart, the whole album works perfectly as a whole. Sit down and really listen to this CD. It is beautiful.