Waterloo, Tennessee

Uncle Earl

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2007)
• Original Release Date: March 13, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B000MTPAE0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,207 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After switching to big-name British producer John Paul Jones (of Led Zeppelin fame; he also contributes some instrumental support), this female stringband quartet continues to go wider and deeper in its exploration of acoustic Americana. On their sophomore release, Uncle Earl's balance contributes to their range. Each of the four is a virtuosic musician, all contributing vocals that blend into the buoyant harmonies of "One True," the a cappella shape-note spiritual "Buonaparte," and the field hymn "Easy in the Early ('Til Sundown)." While uptempo fare spotlights the sprightly fiddle of Rayna Gellert, banjoist Abigail Washburn sings a stark meditation on mortality in the revival of Ola Belle Red's "My Epitaph," with guitarist Kristin Andreassen illuminating the vocal purity of A.C. Carter's "The Birds Were Singing of You." As for percussion, Gillian Welch provides guest drums on "The Last Goodbye," and Andreassen's clogging serves as a rhythm track behind Gellert's fiddle on "Sisters of the Road." --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Ole g'Earls, November 3, 2007

By	Peter Reeve (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Uncle Earl is an all-woman, old-time music group. They often refer to themselves as the g'Earls. Their fans have been nicknamed g'Earlfriends, but I think I'll pass on that, although I am a fan. Formed in 2000, Uncle Earl had a few changes of lineup in the early years, but by the end of 2003 the current lineup was complete.

Like all good music, this CD repays repeated listening. There are 16 tracks listed, but it is really 15, because Bonaparte is an intro to Bony on the Isle of St. Helena (You certainly don't want to download an MP3 of Bonaparte by itself). That's still a healthy serving of Country fare, and it gives them scope for experimentation. For instance, Kristen Andreasson shows off her clog dancing skills on one track. I had always thought of cloggies as being essentially English, but if you can have clog dances on an English village green, why not on Bluegrass? Another innovation is Abigail Washburn, who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, hollering an accompaniment in that language over the lively tune of Streak o' Fat, Streak o' Lean. That's surely a first.

Abigail has a beautiful voice, but all 4 g'Earls can ably carry a tune.

John Paul Jones's production sacrifices the words to the music at times, allowing the vocals to be drowned out. The idea, I suppose, is to give things a spontaneous, live performance feel. I would have preferred more emphasis on clarity than atmosphere, more of a studio quality sound, but some listeners will disagree. D&P Blues features `some party noise' in the background, but that has some legitimacy when you realize D&P stands for drinking and promiscuity.

This CD is a foot-tappin', boot-stompin', clog-bashin' treat for lovers of traditional music, and is full of interest even for those who have not yet taken to the genre.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be your favorite uncle..., March 23, 2007

By	Linwood I. Greer (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As unusual as it is for a relatively new group's second offering to surpass their first, the women known as Uncle Earl have pulled it off. Their blend of wonderful traditional pieces and great original works, performed with joy and virtuosity are a marvel to behear and behold it you're lucky enough to catch them in concert and don't even get me started on their unique harmonies... Do yourself and acoustic music a favor, buy it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-hear album, June 17, 2008

By	Mark Wylie (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the second album by the current line-up of the "g'Earls" of Uncle Earl (a third album by an earlier lineup is hard to get ahold of). It's to be hoped that the current g'Earls are all aboard for the long haul--as long as they can turn out material like this, they will be on the must-hear list of any fan of bluegrass, old-time country or any kind of "traditional" music.

All four members of the quartet are accomplished instrumentalists. KC Groves, the co-founder of Uncle Earl, primarily mandolin, mixed with some guitar. Rayna Gellert is the group's fiddler; she can dazzle you with virtuosity or take a more supporting role as needed. Abigail Washburn plays a delightful clawhammer banjo. And Kristin Andreassen is the "utility g'Earl" who moves with ease from guitar to fiddle to banjo ukulele to harmonica, and will even throw in a little clog-dancing. Erin Youngberg joins the group on bass for several numbers.

All four g'Earls are competent vocalists, who harmonize extremely well together, and two of them are more than competent as soloists. Abby Washburn, as several reviews have noted, has a beautiful voice with some of the heart-breaking quality of Emmylou Harris. I could listen to her sing "The Last Goodbye" all day long. And while Kristin Andreassen doesn't have a huge voice, her singing has a way of growing on you. There's just an intangible "rightness" to how she covers numbers like "The Birds Were Singing of You," an old Carter Family tune.

What makes "Waterloo, Tennessee" a true classic album is the abundance of truly memorable tracks. Besides the two I've already mentioned, there are several more. "One True" is an exuberant affair that could well become the group's "anthem." "D & P Blues" is another showcase for Abigail Washburn's wide-ranging vocal talents. I also love "Wish I Had My Time Again" and "Bony on the Isle of St. Helena" with its shape-note introduction. And then there's the extraordinary "Streak o'Lean, Streak o'Fat," which I would liken to a rousing hoedown tune where the caller (the Mandarin-fluent Abby Washburn) starts shouting in Chinese. This one has become Uncle Earl's first music video.

As I said, this album is an absolute must for any fan of traditional music.