6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Canadian Gaelic Sounds, August 11, 2001
This large family of musicians hail from the east coast of Mabou, Cape Breton Island, Inverness Co., Nova Scotia. They have topped Canadian music charts with their unique Celtic-influence sound. Their idea was to keep Celtic tradition alive in their music. What started out as a hobby The Rankin siblings decision to do more. They recorded their first album and they drove across Nova Scotia to businesses where they began to sell their self-titled debut.
The album "Uprooted" (dedicated to their mother, Kathleen who died of breast cancer in 1997) is a blend of Irish, ancestral Scottish, Celtic and contemporary songs. It has electic zest, vitality and vigor heard from any Canadian Celtic band with a gamut of human emotions combining ethereal harmonies with pop grooves. The song 'Movin' On' is a drifter kind of sound with images of life on the road. The 'Parlour Medley' is an lively Irish jig. 'Weddings, Wakes and Funerals' has funky street beats and poetic spoken word from the dance hall themes. 'Long Way to Go' is packed with jam session attitude. The 'Farewell to Lochaber' is a tribute to their ancestral Scottish roots. The Gaelic, 'An Innis Àigh' (The Happy Isle) combines versatility of the ancient language and modern folk tradition. The whole album has a gritty and an edgy invocation. There's lots of fabulous piano, organ and fiddle arrangements in this album. The album was produced by three time Grammy winner George Massenburg having worked with James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat and Earth, Wind & Fire. It was recorded in Nashville and Nova Scotia. One can't go wrong with the quality of this album.
Once you try this album you may want to try out their other fruits of labor.
"Fare Thee Well Love"
"North Country" (Canadian Release)
"North Country" (American Release)
"Grey Dusk of Eve" (Canadian Release)
"Endless Seasons"
"Collection"
"Do You Hear...Christmas with Heather, Cookie and Raylene Rankin"
"Song Dog" (Jimmy Rankin)
Unforunately The Rankins have lost a gifted family member, John Morris Rankin who was killed in a tragic car accident in January 2000. This tragedy hasn't left the group undaunted. They continue to work onward to their goals in keeping the Celtic dream alive. If you're a Celtic music fan and like a Celtic and pop blend give them a try. This group shouldn't be passed up. A closer to fine recommendation for sure!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never better, October 28, 1999
The Rankin Family's "Endless Seasons" is an album that I play again and again and again and again. "North Country" was a comparative disappointment, but "Uprooted" puts them back on track as far as my tastes are concerned. There's much more of a country music edge in this album, but the heavenly harmonies are still there. I hope the Rankins keep making an album at least once a year, because I will always be a fan (and, by the way, if Raylene has left the group, I sure hope they tempt her back). If you want a combo of Nashville and the Celtic mood, buy this album for sure!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WARNING: THIS CD CAN BE ADDICTIVE, November 13, 1999
By A Customer
I based my decision to purchase this recording on the previous releases from this group and I must say, I am very pleased. One will find elements in this album which you think at first Dixie Chicks?...Beck?...Clannad?....no....and yes to all of the above. This does not fit any particular genre unlike the "Endless Seasons" and "North Country" which could easily fit into the folk music genre.
If The Rankins are reading this, This is your best work yet....Well Done!
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