Search - Buffy Sainte-Marie :: Quiet Places

Quiet Places up where it belongs

Aage Nielsen | Boise, Idaho United States | 12/17/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sainte-Marie's final effort for Vanguard never received its due, as it lacked the hit singles of its predecessor, Moonshot. However, to many fans, Quiet Places contains several classics. The uplifting title track and the ethereal "Jewels of Hanalei" are often cited as fan favorites, while "Just That Kind of Man" would have surely been a huge hit, as it is one of her most accessible, radio friendly recordings. Her covers of Carole King's "Eventually" and Joni Mitchell's "For Free" also had hit single potential in 1973, when the album was released. The criticism that Buffy endured for working with rock bands on this and other albums was entirely overblown. She and her contemporaries had been branching out to other styles for many years at that point.(notably Bob Dylan's infamous "going electric" in the 60's) Quiet Places certainly deserves another look (and listen)."

A great upbeat album

D. Rachlin | Stow, MA USA | 11/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many years before this album came out, the title song was a mysterious, unrecorded song in her song book. I remember running back to my dorm room to hear the song finally on vinyl...and loving it. The album has some enjoyable, upbeat songs; some in honor of her early influences and 60's compatriots, such as Elvis and J. Mitchell. Other songs leave us wondering who she's singing about. Who, for instance, is Claire Vol and her young son? Who is Caleb? Despite the title, it's not a quiet album. She got together an excellent and versatile band, who match her powerful voice. Although there is not a hint of First Nations/Indian politics and sounds of other albums, which her fans have grown to love and crave (with the possible exception of "Civilization"), it is to be sure an important addition to anyone's cd collection of her outstanding body of work."