Customer Reviews

Your Daughters & Your Sons

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Saw the Duhks, a Canadian group, at an outdoor festival in South Carolina in September, 2003. The band consists of claw-hammer banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass, and bongos (of all things). They play clean, fast, intricate Irish and traditional folk music. I bought this album before I went home.

About half the cuts are songs; the other half are instrumentals. Their young fiddle player, Tania Elizabeth, is the best I've ever heard. The vocals are also fine, as are the lyrics. You'll be smiling and tapping your feet.

Highly recommend. Not one song that you would want to skip.
A great traveling CD.

I was lucky enough to see this fantastic new band at Magfest in Fl in Oct 2005. The skill of these young musicians is almost beyond belief. Tania is probably the greastest fiddle player in the world. Just to watch the look of intense concentration as she plays some of what I believe to be very difficult music is worth the price of admission. But then there is Jessie, OH Jessie what a voice & wonderful delivery. The smile alone is worth buying 100 cds. This dosn't mean that the other members are not as good; they are. It just so difficult to take your eyes off of Tania & Jessie.
Then there is the music--------------WOW, buy both cds & pray for a dvd soon.
Go to see them in person. You will be happy you did

I have all the Duhks cds, as I find their sound to be fitting to my tastes. I enjoy listening, and can't wait for the next cd from this group.

I saw The Duhks performing in Idaho, June 2005. Our town is small but the place was PACKED and people of all ages were having a great time. I couldn't stop dancing, it's such great music! It's an origional sound and the musicians obviously have fun with what they do. I bought both albums before the concert was even halfway done, don't regret it one bit!

This is an excellent album. This is a very talented group of young performers, although the album stands up regardless of the performers'ages. Catch these kids in concert, if you get the chance.

Saw The Duhks at Rhythm & Roots Festival in RI Labor Day weekend 2004...did not fall in love til I returned home with a free CD they gave me...I am now in love!!!...Jessee has threatened to give us comp tix at Northampton, MA on 7 Jan. 2005...driving 6 hours from ME will be worth every mile!...mailing my copy of CD to Lilli in Beijing, China so she can hear...we shall name our daughter "Annabel"...MaineJack