Tidings

Allison Crowe | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 11, 2004)
• Original Release Date: September 21, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rubenesque Records Ltd.
• ASIN: B00063BJC4
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,713 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Crowe for Christmas It is customary among some at this time of year, to begin to issue seasonal greeting by reference to some song. Thus, to readers, I say, have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, or, to paraphrase ecumenically, a Cheery Chanukah or a Kolossal Kwanza. To help you on your way, there is the usual shower of Christmas albums. You might try CDs by Canadian icons Sarah McLachlan (Wintersong) and the Barra MacNeils (The Christmas Album II), or journey to the land of the green Christmas (mostly) for James Taylor's At Christmas, while the most unlikely source of peace and love is shock-rock heavy metallers Twisted Sister, with A Twisted Christmas. Somehow, I can't quite associate chestnuts roasting on an open fire or sleigh bells jing-a-lingling with Dee Snider and crew... But for me, the real revelation is an CD from last year that I've only just listened to. I refer to that other singer-pianist from Nanaimo, B.C., Allison Crowe. And if you haven't heard of her or, better yet, heard her, you really should. Her album is called Tidings(Rubenesque Records) and they are glad indeed. Beginning with a brief but stirring rendition of the carol It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Crowe launches into a 12-track CD that contains not a single turkey, nor any stuffing. There are other carols (Silent Night, The First Noel), but Crowe also pays tribute to the gods of rock and roll, with charming readings of the Beatles' Let it Be and In My Life, Joni Mitchell's River and the Rolling Stones' Shine a Light, fittingly and thematically concluding with Angel. Crowe's warm, natural, passionate and need I add lovely? voice are perhaps shown to best effect on another glorious standard, Leonard Cohen's magnificent and deeply spiritual quest for faith, Hallelujah. It's been sung brilliantly before by the likes of Rufus Wainright and k.d. lang, but Crowe easily holds her own in that august company. I expect much more to be heard from her. --Martin Levin, Women's Post (Canada)

Product Description

On winter's eve in Canada, Allison Crowe took her seat at the piano and made this music. Tidings unites traditional carols and not-so-traditional songs, all warmly and passionately interpreted through artistry of Allison (and, on three tracks, her trio) in a live, studio, setting. The sounds of this session have been captured, simply and faithfully, by Engineer & Producer Larry Anschell (Pearl Jam, Sarah McLachlan, k-os) Peace on Earth ~ goodwill toward all. Tidings!

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars wonderful...everything, November 19, 2004

By 

Dave Kim (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tidings (Audio CD)

wonderful album. pretty much her voice + a piano producing great music. throws a little pop/jazz into classics, yet she doesn't totally profane the music such as so many modern renditions of old favorites do. (i mean, some of staci orrico's covers seem like they took the old songs, ripped em apart, set em to a bunch of synthesizers, drums, and guitars. not so with allison crowe) she has an incredibly powerful voice, and the piano parts are also well arranged. sometimes, however, she does fall into the pit of going overboard with the "remake" part of remaking the classics. anyway, it is a wonderful album, moving, peaceful, sublime, a fresh breath of good ol' christmas time air, and a should-be classic.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful voice!, December 3, 2004

By 

A reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tidings (Audio CD)

This album is a wonderful addition to your CD collection if you have a love/hate relationship with seasonal music. The covers are good, but the holiday songs are where Crowe really shines. I discovered Crowe's "O Holy Night" purely by accident, and couldn't be more thrilled. I play this album at work, and people are constantly asking me who the artist is. I highly recommend it!

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable, January 16, 2005

By 

CJ Chambers (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tidings (Audio CD)

Absolute perfection. She is one of the rare few who possess a voice such as this - not just technically moving, but there is no doubt that it's her soul singing. Thank you, Amazon, for introducing me to her music. Allison Crowe's voice not only gives me chills but leaves me breathless as well. It's a shame that talent such as this gets so little attention while at the same time we're inundated with singers who can't sing and other such crap. I can't wait for her next album.