Customer Reviews

Secrets

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had the great fortune to see Sierra Hull back in 2007. There she was on stage with the Mark Newton Band, stage set about 50 feet from the RF&P railroad tracks in Ashland, VA. Her name wasn't listed in the program but leader Mark Newton kept mentioning her name and the long drive to Byrdstown, TN as Sierra had to be in school the next day.

There I sat in my lawn chair, about 20 feet away from the stage watching this beautiful young woman display her mastery of the mandolin along with delightful vocals. To hear her pleasurable voice is most enjoyable but to watch her fingers fly on her mandolin is a sight to behold!

Again I had the fortune to see Sierra in Richmond in 2009. This time she & her band were second billed to "The Grascals". 'Grascals' Jamie Johnson stated that before long everyone will be in line for Sierra Hull's autograph. I now have an autographed copy of "Secrets". She is a sweet, delightful young lady, even saying "nice to see you again" to me after mentioning that 2007 gig.

First year Berklee School of Music student Sierra Hull is well on her way to developing her prodigal abilities to stardom; very much like her mentor Alison Krauss. As for her recording Secrets, all songs are pleasing, if maybe youthful work in progress. I find her efforts on the songs "Pretend" and "The Hard Way" most gratifying. The last song, "Trust and Obey" is a spiritual offering that will truly touch your heart.

Prime Cuts: Trust and Obey, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, The Hard Way

Sierra Hull is destined to make bluegrass cool again. Merely only 16 years-old, "Secrets" hits the high water mark in terms of debut CDs with Hull's impeccably pure angelic sound that calls to mind a young Alison Krauss. In fact Krauss presence is felt right through the disc: namely because this debut effort is helmed by Union Station's Ron Block together with Hull. Hopefully with her clout with Rounder Records (also Krauss' recording home), this will stream in the success Hull deserves. An austere line of Who's Who in bluegrass forms the band backup including Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminski, Stuart Duncan, Ron Ickes AND Mountain Heart's Jim Van Cleve. Unfaultable also is Hull's mandolin licks; while teenagers her age are into the latest hip hop beeps and whistles Hull's constant love is playing her rustic string instruments. And when she plays conterminous with these bluegrass greats, she sounds like a peer.

Most importantly, it is still the songs that shine. While many bluegrass outputs veer on the technical virtuoso of exceptional playing made at the expense at the quality of the songs, this is not the case here. Opener and title cut "Secrets" is a prime example of an introspective glance into "the secret passions" of Hull's heart that s made even more bittersweet with the delicate mandolin lines. Hull has a hand in the composing "Pretend," a paean of unrequited love told with a diary-like frankness. And despite the incessant fiddle licks to mask the pain, Hull's expressive vocals could not hide the influx of feelings of pain. Hull also hammers home a heartfelt rendition of Rivers Rutherford and Gordie Sampson's "The Hard Way," giving Keith Urban (who first covered this song) a run for his money with her bluegrass treatment of this gorgeous uptempo number. Soaring with crystalline purity Hull soars with an affecting elan on the proverbial lilting "Everybody's Somebody's Fool."

Gospel fans get more than their fix with the traditional "Trust and Obey." This is more than just your obligatory hymn that often closes off a bluegrass/county disc. Backed only by Ron Black's guitar, Hull sings with so much conviction she indeed leads the parade as far as soul shattering performances go. Although not as affective, "Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" with its heartwarming lyrics also create some high lonesome splendor. With the album's highlight being Hull's vocals, the two instrumentals ("Hullarious" and "Smashville") done at high sonic speed sounds indistinguishable from copious bluegrass instrumentals out there. Also, the CD could definitely profit from a couple more ballads.

Despite the minor criticisms, "Secrets" is an elegant effort done by a vocalist who sings beyond her years. Hull's uncommon ability to transmit the aches and warms of these songs is nothing short of stellar. With an album this good, Sierra Hull will be a "secret" no more.

If you are like me and mourning that Alison Krauss has hooked up with Robert Plant this year (I know it is a multi platinum album/cd) Sierra Hull can help you survive through this period. Whereas, Alison plays the "fiddle" Sierra plays Bill Monroe's instrument of choice - Mandolin.
Yes she is only 16 years old and her voice will mature with age and experience but if Alison doesn't come back to Union Station, Sierra could fill that role very well. In fact on the various songs are members of Union Station contributing their talents. To paraphase Randy Jackson, Sierra you are the "BOMB" With Sierra being the next generation of "bluegrass" artists, Bill Monroe can rest easy that his baby - Bluegrass music is in very capable hands. Bluegrass music fans, this should be in your collection!

I never considered myself a fan of Bluegrass as a genre but it has slowly crept into my collection. Sierra's album has definitely won a place there. Her talents are revealed through this album. Every track is delightful -- hard to pick a favorite!
I would recommend this album to anyone who loves music. She will reach out with her mandolin and touch your soul. A lovely young woman with a lovely voice--can't wait to hear more!

I discovered Sierra Hull on YouTube and just HAD to get this CD. Some of her songs are covers, like Connie Stevens' "Everybody's Somebody's Fool". She has several instrumental numbers that really show off her talent on the mandolin.
Her voice is nice too, and she's got it all. Great instrumentalist, good songwriter, great vocals. It will be fun watching her take off and fly high and far.

Sierra Hull's album Secrets is the musical equivalent of slipping someone a mickey. You see the fresh-faced girl on the cover, clutching her mandolin for dear life, and think 'Oh yeah, I know what this is about.' She launches into the title track, singing as beautifully as you expected. But then she starts trading mandolin licks with Jerry Douglas, giving the performance of his life on the dobro. On the second cut, From Now On, she does it again, but this time with fiddle virtuoso Stuart Duncan and banjo honcho Cory Walker. At this point, your mouth opens, your jaw hits the floor, and you realize: oh no, oh my; I am in WAY over my head here.

Secrets is an album of voices, both human and musical. Sierra's capable voice is undeniably that of a 16-year-old. However, the credits reveal that other voices, including Dan Tyminski, Ron Block, and Clay Hess, are present. These are not harmony vocals; they are an octave down, and have been mixed so subtly as to add extra timbre to Sierra's voice where needed. Every vocal passage is immediately answered by an instrument, sometimes multiple instruments in counterpoint, weaving scintillating, kaleidoscopic patterns of sound. There are dozens of fiery instrumental solos, but they have been so tightly, seamlessly integrated into the ensemble that it leaves the music teetering on a desperate knife edge between passion and restraint.

It is difficult to fathom the generosity of spirit which led the cadre of superstar musicians featured and quoted in Secrets to welcome Sierra Hull as their musical peer. But that spirit pervades the album, and probably contributed to the extraordinary performances found in it. In terms of instrumentation, it is traditional bluegrass. But before you quite understand what is happening, and while being disarmed by her sweet, slightly naive girl's voice, Sierra the mando princess hijacks the flight and takes you on a sweeping musical soul journey to places beyond time and words.

Secrets is a fabulous, transcendent album. It really should come with a warning label. After a few listens, it is hard to go back to anything else. It leaves other, ordinary music sounding like it has a whole dimension missing.

Having been a devoted Bluegrass musician for close to 20 years, I can truly say that we finally have something new here that will be talked about for decades to come. There are so many young musicians who have emerged in the last decade, and many are producing outstanding music. However, Sierra is miles, no, years, ahead of them. It cannot be denied that she exhibits a STRONG influence from Alison Krauss, but this is something vastly different, something that we have not heard before. Sierra is a new, fantastic talent. There are no words that can accurately describe the spectacular work done on this album. It is a work that embraces tradition and innovation, and if your taste is for the best in Bluegrass, BUY THIS ALBUM.

Let me say, I DO love Alison Krauss and the combination of her band-mates, Tyminski and Douglas, et al, such an awesome group of collaborators, and I'm sad to see her flit off with Plant (the musical combo of which I do not get), & whose music I liked back when...hope she comes back to realize her roots/strengths...and YES Sierra Hull has an AMAZING sound! Hard to believe she is just sixteen! She has an extremely bright future in front of her. Lol, She should hijack Tyminski, Douglas and the rest while lovely Alison is having her fling!;)

16-year old mandolinist-vocalist Sierra Hull is sure to be remembered as one of the more exciting bluegrass prodigies to emerge in the closing years of this decade. With comments of praise from Alison Krauss and production assist by Union Station's Ron Block, Hull's future seems assured: several of these songs slide into the sweet, honeyed pop-grass balladry that made Krauss a superstar, and with her own strong, confident voice, Hull may well follow. (Just think, if Krauss could find room for a second female voice in her band, what a potent combo that would be!) Fans of modern crossover-bluegrass will want to check this album... it's pretty sweet! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue country music reviews)

I flipped on my XM Radio to Bluegrass Junction while on a road trip and caught an interview session with Sierra. They were playing her music and talking to her and I was blown away by her sound and amazed to hear her age. After buying the album and listening to it completely I am not even remotely disappointed. Her singing voice/style is absolutely beautiful and she can play the Mandolin as good as anyone I've heard twice her age.

If you want to be amazed at her work outside of this album just hit Youtube and search for her name. This will not be her last album by any stretch of the imagination!