Vigil

Various Artists (Performer)

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 23, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Conscious Records
• ASIN: B000066EVK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,740 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As it has for seemingly every human calamity since Vietnam and Bangladesh, the music industry rallied itself in the aftermath of 9/11, though with an often remarkable self-restraint (one shudders to think how the solemn dignity of America: A Tribute to Heroes might have been tainted with but a little "We Are the World" egotism). But while the half-life of the biz's conscience generally parallels its attention span, this human-scaled project--conceived by Suzanne Vega and performed by fellow members of her Greenwich Village Songwriter's Exchange--distinguishes itself by being historically retrospective and personally introspective at the same instant. Though time has blunted the raw rage, the perspectives are still powerful: Christine Lavin details the descending gloom of her neighborhood firehouse as it discovered the true toll of the day; Bob Hillman offers a surreal, bravely whimsical take on watching the towers fall over and over again on TV, and, on "Communists," a tongue-in-cheek lament for the idealistic foes of old; Ina May Wool's "Boxcutters and Knives" coolly ticks off the weapons of terror and counter-terror with a delicate delivery that only makes the irony all the more insistent. Vega's "It Hit Home" is a public confession of naked emotion and mixed feelings that's as powerful as it is typically straightforward. It's anthology as prism for intellect and emotion, detachment, and even pretense--a much-needed reminder that this tragedy was, and is, national, yet remains intensely personal. Proceeds will go to the Jeff Hardy Memorial Fund (Hardy was a songwriter--and brother of Songwriter Exchange founder Jack Hardy--who worked as a chef in the WTC and was killed on 9/11). --Jerry McCulley

Product Description
Singer/Songwriter Suzanne Vega & The Greenwich Village Songwriter's Exchange To Release New Tribute CD Vigil For the Victims of September 11

Following the tragedies of September 11, the nation and especially New Yorkers have pulled together in a support of solidarity to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

This spring, pop/folk artist, Suzanne Vega and fellow members of the Greenwich Village Songwriter's Exchange will release a tribute CD titled Vigil, with songs written about those events. As executive producer, Suzanne has compiled several songs by the members, as well as contributed her own song, "It Hit Home."

"Vigil is a natural response to try and bring together the people who want to know how New York is doing after the attacks, and those who were writing about life in New York City, as we all attempted to return to normal." says Suzanne Vega.

Founded by folk pioneer Jack Hardy, the Greenwich Village Songwriter's Exchange has provided local New York songwriters a weekly workshop where its members share new songs and exchange ideas.

So far, the list of contributing songwriters are: Suzanne Vega, Tim Robinson, Jack Hardy, Wendy Beckerman, Bob Hillman, Jon Albrink, Ina May Wool, Dawn Landes, Brian Rose, Richard Julian, Jill Gerwitz, Amy Marie Keller, Andy Germank, Noam, Weinstein and Richard Meyer. Tim Robinson also contributes his artwork to Vigil.

All proceeds from Vigil will go to the Jeff Hardy Memorial Fund. Jeff Hardy was a local Greenwich Village musician who was working as a chef in the World Trade center-based law firm of Cantor Fitzgerald on September 11. Jeff was also the younger brother of Jack Hardy, Greenwich Village Songwriter's Exchange founder and Fast Folk Editor.

Vigil (Conscious Music) will be available to purchase through Amazon.com (Release date April 30.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Tribute Album!, May 7, 2002

By A Customer

I worked in the World Trade Center until September 11, so this CD has a special meaning for me.

As a fan of the NYC folk music scene since the 1960's, I was aware of Jack Hardy and the Greenwich Village Songwriter's Exchange long before the attacks killed his brother Jeff and brought about this CD. I've listened with pleasure to many of the products of the Exchange, as well as later work by the group's alumni(ae).

Since many of the tracks on the album were recorded in home studios rather than in professional recording studios, the audio quality of the tracks vary somewhat. However, the songs are of uniformly high quality, and the performances are all heartfelt and very fine, exhibiting the range of emotions that many of us experienced since September in ways that we found hard to express.

This CD is what the contemporary folk scene, at its very best, is all about.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vigil, May 8, 2002

By	suzanne (Rumson, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

In the ongoing conversation about 9/11, a friend mentioned this album. Some of the proceeds go to help families who lost someone. Since I hadn't found a favorite driving CD for some time, and it was a good cause, I picked this one up. The variety of styles by the artists listed made me wonder what was ahead. I didn't want to hear slick, I didn't want to hear 'it's all about me' ego. I scanned the first, the middle and the last tracks and every tune was distinct in style, all good, no slick, no ego. Then I played it all the way through. There is a song for each mood that comes from living through a nightmare day. Very thoughtful, consistent quality of lyric. The female vocalists are soothing but frank. The first track,"Firehouse," quietly jerks us out of the present and breaks our hearts all over again. It goes on from there. The CD in its entirety is soft music, not angry. It is sincere with clever verse and some melody, but get ready for tears the first time through. There is nothing maudlin about the music; it just speaks from the heart. "It Hit Home" is the everyman experience of loss of a neighbor and the tune sticks in the head all day. "Never Forget" makes you want to call a friend just to talk about life. The guy tunes are strong and concise about how we deal with reality in an aftermath of a day from hell. "A Well Dressed Man" and "On a Clear Day", "Communists" and Spoonfed," to pick a few, are all different, not as sympathetic as they are objective on how we get through grieving as a people. And there are more. Can't pick any favorites, they're all good. "When Mohammed came to the mountain" is the perfect end, verse, leaving the listener with dry eyes, sitting in silence, praying. The material on this CD is exactly what goes through our heads when we try to be "normal" again after an horrific loss. Now, each time I listen, and its easy to listen, I feel an incremental move toward closure on a day I will never forget. If you are looking for a sign of good in the human heart, this is it. I'm going to make this gift material for those who cry spontaneously when they pass memorial sites or read the news.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music like it used to be before commercialization., May 16, 2002

By	W. Andrews "uncwilly" (Greater Los Angeles) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Imagine going over to a friend's house and they say, "Hey, I got this song about what happened on 9/11". Would you say, "No, I don't want to hear it", because it wasn't a fully 'produced' song? No, you would, of course, listen to it. Now imagine that your friend is a famous singer-songwriter, what power that would have in the simplicity.

These songs, many recorded in a simple voice-guitar pairing, are powerful and moving. This is especially true when you realize that they all knew somebody that died (Jeff Hardy, in particular). When Jack Hardy sings and you understand that it is -his- brother that he is refering to, it makes it real. When Suzanne Vega sings and you know that she planned to visit -her- brother at the WTC that day, it sends shivers down your spine.

These artist follow the great tradition of remembering major events in song, something that we shameful have moved away from. A.P. Carter and the Rye Cove cyclone is a prime example. Songs about the Galvaston Hurricane, battle songs, the list goes on. We have left this tradition. This group of 'folk' (the word means people) singers, have steered us back to songs that touch the heart and remember real history. None of the sticky sweet 'oops I did it again' pop that is like soda pop (empty calories). These songs are 'meat and potatoes' songs, they have real value and will 'stick to your ribs'.