Customer Reviews

Rite the First Time

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Filk and the Pagan communities enjoy the two best kept secrets of American acoustic music. Filkers brings playfulness and a fantasy/science fiction sensibility to their reconstructions of the folk tradition, while Pagan tunesmiths explore the rich storehouse of fairy tale and myth to evoke magic and wonder in their songs. The Three Weird Sisters create brilliant music at the point where these two vibrant genres intersect, and Rite the First time, their debut CD, offers a fine sampling of their talent. All three of the Sisters are accomplished vocalists; instrumentation includes Gwen Knighton's wire harp, Brenda Sutton's guitar and bodhran, and Teresa Gibson Powell's upright bass.

By turns playful and moody, shimmering and satirical, the songs on this CD cover a rich and varied emotional terrain. Two of the Sisters are songwriters and like the Indigo Girls, each has her distinct style: Brenda Sutton is an accomplished wordsmith, wringing humor and ironic insight out of lyrics that are propelled by infectious melodies; while Gwen Knighton's mystical and romantic forays into the otherworld have an edgy, moody feel to them. Highlights among the original tunes include "Dumb Dumb Dorothy," in which the little girl from Kansas admits she had it better back in Oz, and "Song of Fey Cross," a cautionary fairy tale with an ominous feel and a spine-tingling story. This CD also includes several cover songs, especially Cheryl Wheeler's "When Fall Comes to New England" and Dar Williams' "Iowa," both of which showcase TWS's gorgeous harmonies. If you have any interest in Filk or Pagan music, this disc is utterly indispensable. Meanwhile, anyone who enjoys lovely harmonies, clever songwriting, and a sense of magic will find this recording to be well worth the price of admission.

This CD gives you a real sampling of the various styles that Three Weird Sisters do so well. There are slow songs, fast songs, funny songs, touching songs, and through it all the great harmonies and beautiful instrumentals that everyone loves.

A great pity that "Little Boy Blue", a ballad about a painful relationship and the cycle of self deception, isnt one of the songs available to listen to from this CD, as it is one of my favorites. The harp work on "Little Boy Blue" is exquisite, and i swear most of my friends know someone like this guy in real life!

Fair warning though, do NOT listen to this CD for the first time while driving, or trying to run on a treadmill. I did, and explaing the reason why i fell off the gym equipment was a bit tricky. You just get settled into a rythm and style, when this CD changes around on you. Great for the car on a second listen, though....It has a permenent place in my CD player.

I bought this CD based on the name of the group, and the name of the CD, just having heard the little bitty preview on Amazon and I'm glad I did. It is intelligent humor; entertaining musically as all three women are talented both in voice and instrument. Sometimes, in the Craft, we take ourselves a little bit too seriously. This is an excellent reminder that there's another side to it all.

Right from the cover art, which shows you three diverse and talented ladies merrily brewing musical mischief, you know this album is something special. Bracketed in literary inspiration [_The Wizard of Oz_ and Connie Willis' _Doomsday Book_], this is a musical sandwich of the best kind: delight and surprise skillfully blended, crunchy and tasty, poignant and funny, piercing and sweet. Covers of songs by Nancy McCallion, Andrew Ratshin, Gordon Bok, Cheryl Wheeler, Gwyddion Penderwen, Dar Williams, and traditional ditties are immediately accessible to a wide audience, but it is the original songs that shine the brightest in this musical galaxy. Something old, something new, Something borrowed, something blue, Something original, and all of it true-- These Three [very ;)] Weird Sisters sing and play as one, in the closest of harmonies, and take you along on the most marvellous of musical journeys. It's a good thing the liner notes include the words to the songs, because you'll want to learn them and sing along right away. The only questions are, "May we have some more, please?" and "When?" All this drooling has whetted my appetite, so I'm off to listen to my copy again--right now! How about you? :)

Three Weird Sisters (or 3WS to aficionados) really defy easy genre categories. They play at celtic-music festivals, folk gatherings, science fiction conventions, renaissance fairs and pagan conclaves with equal skill (and similar audience response). Their repertoire includes original songs written by members of the band (over half this album), songs by contemporary singer-songwriters, traditional ballads, and more. Collectively, they play bodhran, stand-up bass, wirestrung folk harp, acoustic guitar, and pennywhistle, as well as do wonderfully-arranged, tight three-part vocal harmonies. There's funny stuff, serious stuff, storytelling songs, and mood pieces here. There are songs about modern life, about books, about relationships, about self-pity, about faeries and their wiles, and about history here. If you like Christine Lavin, Tom Lehrer, vocal harmony groups like Rockapella or the Bobs, or Dar Williams, give them a listen. If you don't, and any of this sounded interesting, give them a listen anyway - odds are you won't be sorry.

Anything by the 'sisters is great. C'mon, how many voices wax poetic about Iowa? This CD is solid and well thought out, with vocals that penetrate the mind; and enrich the believers nights. And it's too bad so few people will ever hear of them. This celebration is NOT just for us; it's for everyone. Blessed be.

... is a CD of brainworms. Songs that will get stuck in your head and won't let go.The problem is, unlike advertising jingles and most other brainworms, these songs are GOOD! Awfully nice to see Pagan music that isn't dreary minor-key I'm-so-persecuted (complete with lots of revisionist history) - if I could dance I'd be up and dancing to many of these tunes!

"In A Gown Too Blue" is unlikely to make any sense to anyone who hasn't read Connie Willis' "The Domesday Book". Don't worry, the heroine gets rescued at the end of the book.

I purchased this CD a few months back and it has become a permanent fixture in my car. I LOVE this CD. Dumb, Dumb Dorothy, Pity Party, Boys Want...Are just hilarious and fun to sing along to. Absolutely Bonkers, Rite the First Time (my favorite) and Fae Cross are fantastic. All around great collection of tunes. If you're more into mainstream music, then this is certainly not for you, but if you like the more "colorful" artists, then this is a must have. I have ordered Hair of Frog and am looking forward to getting it. Go ahead. Click the order button! You know you want to! :)

The Three Weird Sisters have their own brand of music, certainly. If you liked the Dr Demento show on the radio, you will like their albums. Some of the songs are nice, but others are just not my taste. I don't think I would get their next one, but others may enjoy it.

I've given the Weird sisters music as gifts to my gal pals -- they love the humor in music as much as me. Very fun, professional sound. Listen to it enough times and you'll start singing along with the CD.