Still Crooked

Crooked Still

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 24, 2008)
• Original Release Date: June 24, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Signature Sounds
• ASIN: B00187PNGK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,537 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

USA Today
"The most cohesive of the Boston dark-folk/bluegrass band's three excellent albums -- chilling and otherworldly, what fantasy writers like to call 'eldritch.'"

Product Description
It takes courage to release the securityof the familiar and embrace change. After five years of touring and establishing themselves as "the most important folk group to emerge from Boston since the early 60's" (Boston Globe) , Crooked Still announced that cellist Rushad Eggleston would leave the group in November of 2007. The band that had been drawing invitations from huge events like the historic Newport and Telluride Folk Festivals, and numerous rave reviews from publications like USA Today and Interview Magazine, was now on the cusp of a new musical chapter. The quintet became five with the addition of fiddler Brittany Haas and Tristan Clarridge on cello and second fiddle. If the first album from the new line-up is any indication, success for this young band will be explosive. Crooked Still continues to perform one of the most compelling forms of alternative bluegrass and string band music today.

Still Crooked is an ensemble effort of inspired music making that moves the bands' impossible to pigeonhole style in new directions while honoring their folk roots.Crooked Still's genre bending sound is the combination of five distinctive talents who are not content to limit themselves to any one project or style of music. While Crooked Still is the main band for these talented players, all are involved in other projects including Aoife O'Donovan's work with Solas and Sometymes Why and Gregory Liszt's turn with the Bruce Springsteen's Seeger Sessions Band.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For those quiet evenings at home, June 25, 2008

By	Dr. Debra Jan Bibel "World Music Explorer" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This, the third CD from a somewhat different contemporary-style bluegrass group, is their best thus far. Having unusual sonority achieved through both cello and bass, which contrasts nicely with the banjo, fiddle, and the soft breathy vocals of Aoife O'Donovan, the group offers traditional songs influenced by named artists and, now, a couple of their own. Including more ballads and storytelling than rousing dances, the CD is fine for the late evening or after dinner relaxation. The musicianship is excellent. I happen to be a cello freak and appreciate that instrument's contributions to the sound. I recommend listening to the CD with a good stereo system that allows a brighter, clearer sound, as on lesser equipment the recording, oddly, seems energetically flat and dry in tone, perhaps the fault of a too efficient sound-absorbing studio.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary album from a truly original band, July 14, 2008

By	Woland (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

I discovered Crooked Still entirely by accident at the Grey Fox bluegrass festival two years ago. After enjoying a few sets of traditional bluegrass music played by well-established bands that have been together for decades, this ragtag group of 20-somethings came on the stage -- one with a double bass and another with a cello -- and blew the audience away. I've been hooked ever since.

Still Crooked is the perfect name their latest album, since it's the first since the departure of their wildly spectacular (and spectacularly wild) original cellist Rushad Eggleston. As a great fan of their first two CDs -- Hop High and Shaken by a Low Sound -- I know I wasn't the only one who was worried about the future direction and quality of the band. But from the very first track it's clear that there's no need for concern. The new incarnation of Crooked Still is very much Still Crooked and still creating music of the highest order.

While the album has a few fun up-tempo tunes (Poor Ellen Smith is a blast all the way to the very end, with its surprise final violin flourish), overall it's definitely quieter and more intense than their other CDs. It opens with the extraordinary Undone in Sorrow, a heartbreakingly plaintive song that showcases the entire band's strengths, from Aoife O'Donovan's breathy vocals to the fine playing of new cellist Tristan Clarridge and new violinist Brittany Haas. Another real standout is Low Down and Dirty, an original song of painful love, vengeful murder, and a touch of cowardice written by O'Donovan that brings visions of Tim Burton's movies to mind. Two of the finest songs on the CD are almost lullabies -- Captain Captain and Florence -- and honestly, there isn't a weak song on the entire CD.

Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great recording from a brilliant band, August 21, 2008

By	Fearless Heart (Great Black swamp) - See all my reviews

OK, imagine, if you will, an old wooden railroad bridge across a deep chasm somewhere in the wilderness. Two trains approach from the opposite directions: one is carrying a brilliant string quartet of the finest young classical musicians from the most demanding music schools. The other train is bearing a fantastic bluegrass band with one of the greatest banjo players of the time.

They collide head-on.

And yet miraculously and mysteriously, out of the inferno strides five young survivors. Somehow spared by a higher power of both darkness and light to create a sound greater than the sum of the parts.

That's Crooked Still.

Think about this-- when The Boss was putting together his Seeger Sessions band, he called Greg Liszt to play banjo. Aoife O'Donovan is the daughter of Brian O'Donovan. Guests include Tim O'Brien and Casey Driessen.

My favorite track is the very VERY scary "Did You Sleep Well?" "Murdergrass" at it's finest (Hmmmn, or is it?)

I grant you, some people won't get it. OK, the title is too precious (It should really be called "Undone in Sorrow" a GREAT song from Olla Belle Reed, a GREAT American musician)

These cats are in the very forefront of the incredible revival of world class stringbands such as the Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Duhks, Uncle Earl and Old Crow medicine Show.

Yes, they recently have some new members, but they didn't rebuild, they reloaded.