Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2006)
• Original Release Date: August 22, 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Anti
• ASIN: B000GGSMD0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,697 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Folk > Traditional British & Celtic Folk > Scottish Folk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski hatched the idea for Rogue's Gallery while filming "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"--that idea being to cast genteel rock superstars like Bono, Lou Reed, Bryan Ferry, Andre Corr, and Sting to reinterpret gritty seafaring standards for an exhaustive 43-track double-disc set produced by Hal Wilner. Throw in a bunch of credible folk stars (Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Thompson), their offspring (Rufus, Teddy) and a string of other curious characters (Jarvis Cocker, Antony) and what results is one of the strangest compilations in recent memory, if not exactly the most historically authentic or, well, digestible. Nick Cave embraces the role just a little too hard on "Fire Down Below," while Ferry can't help but sound like he's singing for the cast of "The Love Boat," but cut through the chaff and there is some real bootie here: Bono's "Dying Sailor to His Shipmates," Jolie Holland's "The Grey Funnel Line" and "Boney" by a mysterious tramp called Jack Sh**, which must be some kind of anagram for Johnny Depp. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

While working on the two "Pirates Of The Carribean" films, Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski became fascinated with the lore and fable of the pirates and sailors who ran the high seas. Enter legendary producer Hal Wilner, who brings his knack for matching maverick musicians with extraordinary material. Artists on this double disc set include Bono, Sting, Nick Cave, Bryan Ferry, Lou Reed, Richard Thompson, Lucinda Williams, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, and many more. "Rogue's Gallery" offers a look at the hardships, the horrors, the lusts and lurid depths, and the crystal beauty that led men to the sea in ships for hundreds of years.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars History In Song, November 11, 2006

By	Ralph Quirino (Keswick, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was lucky enough to hear this release before I actually bought it and I'm glad I did. Reviews posted here had led me to expect something very lo-fi and unexceptional. Instead, I heard the past echo firmly and enticingly in these songs. Anyone afraid that the recording quality on these performances "blows" should closet their fears immediately. No such problems exist and all is sonically fine (those readers who reported of poor recording quality should have their equipment checked). Anyone also worried that these interpretations aren't special or exciting should grab those misgivings and hang 'em from the yard-arm (Richard Thompson's contribution is as fine as anything he's ever done and certainly deserved being heard thanks to excellent guitar playing). People, let's remember one thing about these ditties: they're NOT Top 40 songs! They're sea chanteys, ballads of longing, or songs designed to take the drudgery out of work tasks. Frankly, not every experiment works. But it succeeds far more often than it fails (which it only does on rare occasion). I especially enjoyed Loudon Wainwright's two songs (though keep the kids away from his Disc 2 contribution as it's very, very filthy!). And listening to the stuff whilst driving home after a hard day in the "salt mines" certainly will put both a smile and a tear on your face. I especially recommend Rogue's Gallery if you're a fan of British folk-rock of the sixites/seventies variety (it would've been really cool to include Fairport Convention's "I'm Already There", a recent sea song the guys recorded celebrating Franklin's ill-fated Arctic sea trip or even the classic "A Sailor's Life"). In short, a special set worth savoring. But definitely not for everyone.

47 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Idea, Uneven Execution, September 7, 2006

By	Curmudgeon "grantc" (West Australia) - See all my reviews

This is a Hal Willner production, which practically guarantees some very eccentric production choices: material unsuited to the performer, unusual and often genre-inappropriate arrangements, a rough 'live' feel. So some of it works and a lot doesn't. You could make a great single disc out of this double set, but for my money there's too much outright awful music here.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a folk sea chanty record, but amazing, August 17, 2007

By	Conrad Heiney "ignatzmous" (Newport Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Those familiar with Hal Wilner's mad genius won't expect a traditional set of sea songs from this compilation. Apologies to those who did; I see a lot of negative reviews from people who expected something more like the excellent Smithsonian/Folkways collection.

Willner & company have done it again, though. The genuinely eclectic set of performers and styles are typical of his work and as good as ever. If you enjoyed "Stay Awake" or "Lost in the Stars" this one is gold.