Customer Reviews

Songs From the Mountain

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I buy a lot of traditional old-time music and I read a lot. Cold Mountain is one of the best books I have ever read, and this CD is without doubt one of my favorites of all times. The musicians are all excellent and stay true to the tradition of the music of the era. And the liner notes bring the book back to life for me. I would recommend this without hesitation.

I loved the book, COld Mountain, and I love Tim O'Brien. A few years back, listening to Tim live in JohnnyD's, a Boston-area music club, I shared a table with another musician, Taylor Armiding, who said, "Tim just isn't wired like the rest of us." And he isn't: he's something special. Traditional music occasionally loses ground to the next new thing, but there is something special about music that rests on rich cultural heritage. Tim captured the music that must have been in Charles Frazier's head while he wrote his novel and wrote new music in that same spirit. We always need to remember where we came from and Tim -- certainly a man who lives in the present and who has written wonderful songs about the modern condition -- does that.

I bought this CD before I read the book. Both are tremendous! If you like old-time mountain music this is a must-have CD.

I bought this CD based solely on the apparent theme (old-time country music) and Tim O'Brien's participation. It has since become one of my favorites. This is a collection of tunes from America's Scots/Irish and English immigrant past along with a few originals which are indistinguishable from "the real thing." The tunes range from straight ahead fiddle and banjo tunes with roots in European folk music to beautiful gospel harmony songs. I'd never heard of Tim's collaborators Dirk Powell and John Herrmann before, but they are clearly very talented musicians and songwriters. This collection was apparently inspired by a novel called "Cold Mountain" but you don't have to know anything about the book to enjoy the music. Alot of this music has a mournful quality, but it's uplifting at the same time. I would recommend this CD to anyone interested in what rural American music played by Anglo/Celtic immigrants in the 1800s and later probably sounded like. This is the music that spawned bluegrass (and many of these tunes remain in the bluegrass repertoire), but it is definitely distinct from the hard-driving music that we now think of as bluegrass. People who liked the soundtrack to "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" would definitely like this. Other people (like me), who thought that there were many other even better performances unheard by the millions, will really like "Songs from the Mountain." Heck, if you like "roots" music of any kind, you'll probably like this CD. As an aside, Tim O'Brien has done more to promote great acoustic music and awareness of traditional American music than anyone else I can think of and he deserves recognition for that. The guy is just great!

I am an oldtyme 'wanna-be' musician, and in my opinion, this is by far the best cd I own! Anything with Dirk Powell or Tim O'Brien (or Mollie O'Brien) is a 'must-have' cd. They are soulful and heartfelt musicians. Dirk can turn any song he chooses into a beautiful, lonesome melody, or he can make your feet move! I once wrote him a letter asking him about a certain tuning on fiddle, and not only did he respond, he practically gave me a lesson. I learned so much from him, and if he sees this, "Thanks Dirk!" Tim O'Brien, I have the same opinion of him. They are, as I said before, 'The Best of the Best!' If you like that oldtyme sound that makes you feel like you 'are' part of the past, buy the 'Song's' CD. Also, Dirk has a CD out called 'If I Go Ten Thousand Miles'.... It is also a 5 star! And, not to leave out the latest, 'Tony Furtado and Dirk Powell'... Yes,5 stars. I am sure you know the feeling you get when you hear someone playing bag pipes..... The hair raises on your head... The first song on 'Songs from the Mountain' gives you the same feelings, except it is a medley done on 'fiddle'! I love you guys! You are my teachers..... Thanks! Jan Perry (That includes you too Mollie! Keep on singin'!}

all i can say is that this cd is the best one i have ever owned. it surpasses everything else in my collection due to selection of songs, amazing voices and deft instrumentation. 'wayfarin' stranger' reduced my father-in-law to tears once bc the song was played at his daddy's funeral and this cd does the song so hauntingly well. 'skillet good and greasy' is fun and catchy. and the stephen foster tune 'hard times' is sung beautifully. all the instrumentals are played excpetionally well too. you'll never tire of this music if you enjoy bluegrass.

I am an oldtyme 'wanna-be' musician, and in my opinion, this is by far the best cd I own! Anything with Dirk Powell or Tim O'Brien (or Mollie O'Brien) is a 'must-have' cd. They are soulful and heartfelt musicians. Dirk can turn any song he chooses into a beautiful, lonesome melody, or he can make your feet move! I once wrote him a letter asking him about a certain tuning on fiddle, and not only did he respond, he practically gave me a lesson. I learned so much from him, and if he sees this, "Thanks Dirk!" Tim O'Brien, I have the same opinion of him. They are, as I said before, 'The Best of the Best!' If you like that oldtyme sound that makes you feel like you 'are' part of the past, buy the 'Song's' CD. Also, Dirk has a CD out called 'If I Go Ten Thousand Miles'.... It is also a 5 star! And, not to leave out the latest, 'Tony Furtado and Dirk Powell'... Yes,5 stars. I am sure you know the feeling you get when you hear someone playing bag pipes..... The hair raises on your head... The first song on 'Songs from the Mountain' gives you the same feelings, except it is a medley done on 'fiddle'! I love you guys! You are my teachers..... Thanks! Jan Perry (That includes you too Mollie! Keep on singin'!}

I happened to catch Dirk, Tim, and John at the Prism in Charlottesville, Virginia last night as they toured to support this album. Their performance was fantastic. They played a number of the songs from this album, including the first tracks that are highlighted on this review. I have given the CD an early review - I cannot wait to hear it, but based on last night I am sure that it is fantastic. I also recommend seeing these performers live. It will be well worth it!

This album is a beautifully executed collection of folk songs from the 1800s and a few new ones written in the style. That's its beauty and its curse, because in its mission to stay within the boundaries of the style, the record unfortunately becomes more of a historical sketch than a vital piece of music for current listeners. Imagine Woody Guthrie folk tunes or maybe your father's 78s if they were digitally remastered.

I'm finding it hard to be passionate about the album, in other words. On the other hand, those who get passionate about, say, Civil War battle re-enactments, are going to love this record.

Oh, and by the way, I really loved the book, "Cold Mountain." It was more three-dimensional than the record, in my opinion.