14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Future for The Duhks, January 30, 2006
An excellent CD for anyone who loves good Blues, Celtic, Bluegrass, Country, or Rock. While non-electric in the same way as Union Station, they display more drive and funk with almost equal virtuosity on this their first CD. I give it 4 stars because their second CD is a 5.
Almost equal virtuosity, because they are in their professional infancy compared to the maturity and experience of Alison Kraus and her group, but their live performances are every bit as compelling, musically satisfying, entertaining, and quite a bit more exciting.
Their total command of their instruments and the aforementioned musical genres, make them a superb instrumental group. Add to that Jessica Havey's soulful, powerful vocals, combined with tight harmonies and a discriminating, knowledgeable selection of material, and you can hear why this group is building a large and loyal following.
The Duhks are a group worth watching closely. The improvement shown on their second CD over this already excellent one is incrementally equivalent to how much better they are live than on their second CD. You will want both, and their forthcoming third CD should bring them the mass appeal that will require large venues for their energetic concerts.
Do yourself a favor--catch them live while they are still appearing in more intimate settings, buy this CD and their self-titled second one, strap yourself in and prepare for a great ride as a new Duhks fan who got in on the first or second floor. Those of us who caught them on the ground floor are the really lucky ones.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Daughters and Sons-The Duhks, May 7, 2007
I found this CD to be diversified, masterful, and enjoyable. The musicality is excellent, and the different numbers range from English-influenced folk to French Canadian music.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Duhks a l'orange, September 14, 2006
I first heard the Duhks at the Lyons Folks Festival in Colorado in 2003 and was completely bowled over by their incredible music. It seemed like everyone on the grounds was dancing and really getting into the music with energy that (most) other bands just don't generate. You won't go wrong with either of their first two records. (I've just ordered their third, Migrations.)
Take 30 seconds to listen to the clip from "The Leather Winged Bat" or the title track, "Your Daughters and Your Sons", and you'll get a taste. Better yet, listen to Jessica Havey's soulful voice (and lyrics) in "Annabel" or "The Bantry Girls Lament" to hear what so many of us are raving about to our friends.
I do think their self-titled second album is slightly better than their first (you just can't beat "Death Came a Knockin'", "Mists of Down Below", and "True Religion"), but both albums are can't miss.
(For a totally twisted take on the energy the Duhks are capable of cranking out, check out the album "Beautiful Dreamer-the Songs of Steven Foster". The Duhks do a take of "Camptown Races" that will blow you away. The Amazon 30 sec. clip doesn't do it justice, but you get a taste of what they're capable of belting out.)
Tania Elizabeth's unbelievable violin and Leonard Podolak's banjo are still another reason The Duhks' albums (and better yet, their live shows) shouldn't be missed.
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