Search - Kate Rusby :: Ten

KATE THE GREAT

NotATameLion | Michigan | 10/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all--let's get this out of the way: Kate Rusby has dethroned Custer LaRue as my favorite female singer. She holds the crown until further notice. Second, 10 is a great--hear me very well--GREAT recording. Early Kate, late Kate, young Kate, older Kate--it is all great Kate.This recording, 10, is a celebration of the first ten years of Kate's career. It features new songs, re-recordings of old favorites, and some great live tracks. It also features Kate at new heights of brilliance.It is hard to pick favorite tracks here. They are all excellent. However, since it must be done:I Wish was the first track that caught my ear. It is also one that will stay in your head. A fast-paced tale of unrequited love, it'll stick with you long after first listening and it also wears exceptionally well over time (a signature of Kate's work).Cowsong is a brilliant arrangement of a traditional song where for once the woman is surprisingly not the one getting the short end of the stick. It features the wonderful lines:"Never trust a girl with your mother's cow. Never let your trousers go falling down in the green grass."My two favorite songs on this disc are live versions of songs previously heard on Kate's album Hourglass: Sir Eglamore and The Drowned Lovers. Kate does an up-tempo yet flawless take on both of them (The Drowned Lovers is one of my favorite songs of all time). It is hard to believe (if not for the applause) that these songs were indeed recorded live.One more great song (then I promise I'll get around to shutting up) is the new version of I Wonder What is Keeping My True Love. It is a perfect example of Kate's ability to express an almost contemplative sadness.Have no reservations about getting a copy of 10. It is a great disc. I give it my highest recommendation."

The best that folk has to offer

NotATameLion | 04/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are several things that make Kate Rusby's recordings stand head and shoulders above those of her competition. They are musicianship, creativity, perfectionism, good judgment, a keen eye for other talent, and a deep understanding of her own talent. All that, and her voice is absolutely perfect for folk singing. An ideal folk voice has perfect pitch, richness throughout the register, no "break" in the higher register, and a bit of a smoky quality. Kate's voice has all these. She also has the sense to surround herself with absolutely top notch musicians, so a Kate Rusby recording is not just a chance to listen to a beautiful folk voice, but to very creative, imaginative arrangements played with absolute skill (listen to the accompaniment to "I Wish" on this album). Her recordings are also absolutely superbly engineered. As you listen to these recordings multiple times, you begin to realize that every nuance, every phrase and ornament, has been thought through, but still sounds artless and natural. This is in no small measure due both to her own exacting standards and those of her husband and producer, John McCusker. This recording, "10", is the perfect chance for listeners to hear re-done versions of several of her best songs, taken mostly from "Sleepless," but also from several other albums, and to compare them to the originals. Slight differences in tempo and ornament can make a huge difference in how a song is perceived. Most of the re-arranged songs on "10" are taken at a slower tempo than originally recorded. That's because Kate Rusby's voice is ideal for "weeping songs," and a slower tempo allows her to make the most of the pathos inherent in most folk songs, and also to do the ornamentation she does so well, turning even the most mundane tune into something special. "The Recruited Collier" and "The Sleepless Sailor" absolutely come alive done in this way, and "Botany Bay" is so much better on this album it's phenomenal.If you aren't already a Rusby fan and are trying to decide which album to buy first, make it this one. For one thing, "10" just has more music on it, making it a better buy, but the real reason is that this is Kate at her best--every song is a gem. I've played this album for at least 20 people, all with different musical tastes, and every one has said, "Wow.""

Not a folk fan?

Bob Powell | Europe | 03/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Kate's voice on an awards program on BBC television and was totally captivated by it. This in itself is surprising because I think of myself as someone who loves much harder rock music, As an experiment I bought 10 and Underneath The Stars because I wanted to hear more and now, after listening to them I'm totally hooked.Kate's vocal quality is enchanting and her Yorkshire accent reminds me of home, my father is a yorkshireman, and her music tugs at my heart-strings in more ways than one.The acoustic quality of Kate's albums is superb. Guitars and plaintive Irish whistles complement perfectly the haunting quality of the vocals and the albums make for truly great listening.Even though I consider myself an old rocker I love Kate's work and would recommend it to anyone."