Underneath the Stars

Kate Rusby | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Compass Records
• ASIN: B0000WMZXS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,220 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > Folk > British & Celtic Folk > British Folk
  • #38 in Music > Folk > British & Celtic Folk > Irish Folk
  • #77 in Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles > Ireland

Track Listings

1. Good Man

2. The Daughter of Megan

3. Let Me Be

4. Cruel

5. The Blind Harper

6. The White Cockade

7. Young James

8. Falling

9. Bring Me a Boat

10. Polly

11. Sweet William's Ghost

12. Underneath the Stars

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I'M HERE AGAIN, THE STARS BEFRIENDING", January 31, 2004

By 

NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Underneath the Stars (Audio CD)

In the past two years I have acquired all of Kate Rusby's solo albums as well as Infinite Blue where she sings as a member of The Poozies. There are few artists in my quite large CD collection that even compare with Kate Rusby in terms of talent, lyrical content, or in the sheer beauty of her music. None top her.

The British release of Underneath the Stars came a few months before the its appearnace in the U.S. I couldn't wait. I bought my copy from Amazon UK. I was not disappointed.

While all of Kate's CDs are great (there is not a weak one in the batch), Underneath the Stars is, in my opinion, her best album so far. It is filled with great songs, one of which has become one of my favorite songs.

Kate is a master of writing great tunes and arrangements for traditional songs. She is at the top of her form here. Two tunes in particular--"The Goodman" and "Let Me Be"--stand out. They both are rather humorous songs. Both feature first rate instrumentation and singing.

Kate compliments (and I would say ultimately transcends) the traditional songs on the disc with great songs of her own. "Falling" and "Underneath the Stars" are the best songs on the disc. The title track is a work of sheer beauty that I defy the listener not to fall in love with.

It has become my favorite song.

I cannot recommend this album enough. Quit reading these reviews. You are wasting time better spent listening. Get a copy of Underneath the Stars today. I give it my highest recommendation.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty, thy name is Rusby, February 8, 2004

By 

Robert (MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Underneath the Stars (Audio CD)

I've come across several criticisms of Kate Rusby's latest release "Underneath the Stars" where the complaint is lodged that the album sounds too much like her previous recordings and she might consider recording with a different producer and some different musicians. There may be some validity to this complaint, however personally I just can't get enough of this brilliant group of musicians Kate has brought together again for this album.

All of "the boys" are back: John McCusker, Andy Cutting, Michael McGoldrick, Ewan Vernal, and in particular Ian Carr. Ian is on board for 11 of the albums 12 tracks, again contributing his wonderfully oddball guitar arrangements and creating lush, vibrant soundscapes for Kate to sing over. His and Cutting's intro to "Cruel" will break your heart even before Kate enters with her achingly beautiful vocal.

The arranging throughout the album continues the gold standard this group has established on Kate's previous recordings. John McCusker brings his cittern playing to the forefront and even adds a little mandolin, creating some hypnotic moments as his and Carr's string playing weave in and out of each other.

Kate's vocals continue too defy you to come up with adjectives to describe her bittersweet voice. In the song "Young James", Eddi Reader contributes another pristine moment reminiscent of her harmony vocals with Kate on "Withered and Died". You can almost feel yourself lifting off the ground as Eddi and Kate's voices join together for the final verse of the song.

Amongst all the exquisite vocal and instrumental performances on the album, you might almost overlook the fine songwriter Kate is becoming. Her song "Falling" is the highlight of the recording, a heartfelt love song which will either fill you with undying love for your partner or leave you bereft and crying into your beer, depending on your perspective.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Fan, May 1, 2005

By 

Garry Daniel (Knoxville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Underneath the Stars (Audio CD)

I must admit I didn't even know who Kate Rusby was when I bought this CD. I was in my usual CD store, looking around for something new and different, and I wandered over to the folk/celtic section almost absentmindedly. I came upon cds by someone named Kate Rusby, and in the mood to give something different a try, came away with Underneath the Stars.
Am I ever glad I did! This is one beautiful album, and she has one gorgeous voice. I have bought a few folk albums before, mainly Lindesfarne and Fairport Convention, but never a solo album, especially by someone with whom I was not familiar.
LET ME BE, CRUEL, and SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST grabbed me by the soul and would not let go.I will buy the other cds as soon as possible and hope that they are as good as this one. I should try wandering aimlessly around the CD store (or Amazon) more often.