With Roots & Wings

Angel Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 27, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Appleseed Records
• ASIN: B0016GLZE2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,838 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Sweet harmonies, July 29, 2011

By 

Rick Devore (Butler, Pa.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: With Roots & Wings (MP3 Download)

My introduction to The Angel Band was a live performance, and it was quite impressisive. These ladies can really sing and they have a great time doing it. They come from very rootsy backgrounds but after hearing their albums, it is plainly evident that they lack serious songwriting skills - at least enough to fill albums, and many songs on their releases sound too commercial and overproduced to suit the essential rootsiness of the group. After all, this threesome started out as a hobby, so why make the big leap to sounding like overproduced radio hype, which is not really their forte. I feel they should take a more down to earth approach and maybe do more cover songs. A live album would be nice since, from my perspective, the recorded output was a letdown after first catching them in concert. That's not saying that there aren't a few winners on each record. "I Feel Lucky" plays in my head often and I'd love to hear it on the radio.

The Angel Band has a great sound and their hearts are in the right place. I hope to see them again, and a better album would be one that would be added to my collection without hesitation.

5.0 out of 5 stars Soaring, Beautiful Sound, July 17, 2009

By 

Richard Fallstich "Transplant Recipient" (USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: With Roots & Wings (Audio CD)

I don't typically write reviews for products I purchase from Amazon, but I am so captivated by the Angel Band and their music I am compelled to do so. Nothing about them, the melodies, or the songwriting is pedestrian. Their harmonies are fantastic, some of the best. I feel they come very close to the caliber of Emmylou, Dolly, and Linda from the Trio albums. "I'll Sing This Song for You" is reminiscent of Mary Chapin Carpenter's Cajun-tinged "Down at the Twist and Shout" with Beausoleil.

As another review states, "Patron Saint of Opportunity" is the best song on the disc, and this I agree with. The lyrics of this song can mean different things to different people depending on one's point of view. I find it a sparkling song about independence and the human spirit; some may see it as a religious message. It's very well written.

The overriding factor, though, is the ability of these ladies to sing and harmonize like angels. Is their music folk, alt-country, roots, Americana, bluegrass? Sometimes it's only one or the other, and at times it is all of these swirled together, and more. They describe their sound as "boisterous, sad, sweet, goofy, glorious and angelic noise." If this description intrigues you at all, you owe it to yourself to treat your ears to these angels.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars In the Ditch, October 6, 2008

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: With Roots & Wings (Audio CD)

Angel Band has tight harmonies, an exquisite set of backing musicians & terrific production from Lloyd Maines. However, the songwriting by Nancy Josephson is predictable and not overly interesting. After the enjoyably odd opening piece "Hey Papa Legba," the first opener is "I'll Sing This Song for You" that has a melody resembling a grade school chant-song, with very nice fiddles. "Place of Grace" that follows has a very predictable melody. "Drown in the Fountain of Good" has interesting slide guitar with Kathleen's Weber's bluesy lead vocal; however, as the song drones on, its melody belongs in the demo basket. I skip this track because it is so monotonous. "Cold Lonesome Down in Blackbird Creek" again sounds like it's set to a playground melody. It might work well on a child's CD, but is a snooze fest for adults. Robert Tangrea's "Hold Me Angel" has some pep and fancy guitar work which is also the hallmark of his "I'm Coming Home to You," a boogie track. Angel Band is at their best when their tight harmonies fly as on "Patron Saint of Opportunity." Merilee Rush & Juice Newton did "Angel of the Morning." It's by far the best song on the CD, but the version never surpasses the familiar versions. "Jump Back in the Ditch" concludes the CD with Terri Hendrix's handclap percussion and another pedestrian melody. Angel Band has a lot going for it. However, the songs aren't memorable, which makes this an average disc that will have more shelf time than airplay in my changer. Enjoy!