Blue Horse

Be Good Tanyas

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 25, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B00005OAGD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,392 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On their debut CD, three young Canadian songbirds (Frazey Ford, Samantha Parton, and Trish Klein) join the neo-trad movement that has given us such notable voices as Iris DeMent and Gillian Welch. But where Welch finds inspiration in the dark hollows and tragic tales of Appalachian music, the Be Good Tanyas seek out sweetness and light, reveling in the interplay of their beautifully trilling voices. Blue Horse is deeply rooted but is not an exercise in old-time purism; originals outnumber traditional songs, and the core accompaniment of guitar and banjo is often supplemented by bass and drums, creating a Rickie Lee Jones-esque lilt in "The Littlest Birds" and a reggae-tinged groove on the haunting old ballad "Rain and Snow." The band name may be a bit tough to get your lips around, but the music of this talented trio is a refreshing drink from a clear mountain stream. --Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Americana comes from Canada, February 26, 2002

By	"boy_howdy" (Northfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews

There's something innocent and rough around the edges, almost tomboyish about this excellent CD. Where else can you find the childlike sense of wonder at singing a dog lullaby; a naivette that produces lines like "the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs," and the pure joy of a banjo playing a reggae beat (Rain and Snow)? The lyrics are sweet, the instrumentation pure and raw. Campfire harmonies make the cover of O Susanna a natural choice. I can almost smell the woodsmoke and smores, and see the glint of the strings from three great musicians just plain making music they love, and loving it. This album puts the folk back in folk music while managing to stay fresh and new. It is an incredible work of neo-traditional North American folk art -- trust your instincts and buy this disk!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Be Good Tanyas Are Amazing, December 1, 2005

By	Michael Z. Jody "Psychoanalyst, amateur music... (NYC & East Hampton, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Late last night I was driving between New York City and my home in East Hampton. I was listening to a new cd (well, new for me, the album is from 2000) by a group of female singers called The Be Good Tanyas. They are absolutely amazing. They play music that is kind of folky, bluegrassy--though mutedly so--and traditional, though none of those labels really describe what they do.

There are three female singers, and their voices are plaintive, sweet, forlorn, and gorgeous. They accompany themselves on guitar, banjo and mandolin, and the music has a purity and simplicity that allows it to be piercing and haunting. Their harmonies braid and intertwine and make you want to sing along with them (which believe me you do not want to hear when I do it), and then make you want to shut up and listen, because their singing is so gorgeous you need to be silent in order to appreciate it.

Not a bad song on the album, but check out their renderings of two traditionals: "lakes of ponchartrain" and "oh susanna" to see what these women can really do. If you had told me I would LOVE a version of that old chestnut "oh susanna" I would have thought you completely bananas, but fact is, it is amazing.

Blue Horse was the perfect music for being alone in a car hurtling through the night darkness thinking of love and loss and past and future which I was doing. This is the best cd I have purchased in a long time. I also recommend their second cd, Chinatown, and am waiting breathlessly for the third (oh please hurry up!).

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Be Good Tanyas - What heaven sounds like, July 20, 2002

By A Customer

The Be Good Tanyas are the perfect antidote to the soulless treacle passing for music these days. With their sparse, flawlessly executed tunes, haunting, elegant vocals, and intelligent lyrics, one gets the sense that they actually recognize the power of music and are devoted to their craft and not the pursuit of profits. Instead of providing merchandising opportunities or a springboard into multimedia dominance, the Be Good Tanyas make music that speaks directly to he heart. The messages are simple - pain and hope and comfort - but eternal. Refreshing as a summer rain, shining with understated enthusiasm, I can only hope the US music industry is paying attention. After the success of Down from the Mountain, one would hope that major record labels would be quick to seek out quality artists for a thirsty audience wandering too long in a desert of Brittany's and Jlo's. Equally disheartening is that the very best in music these days comes from Canada (besides the Be Good Tanyas, check out Sarah Harmer) and Australia (Kasey Chambers). Do yourself a favor, toss all of those American Idol wannbe CDs in the dumpster, pick up the Be Good Tanyas, and listen to what quality music should sound like. Maybe in a few years, the anemic US music industry will finally catch up to the discriminating standards of fans that appreciate music and not celebrity.