Search - Stan Rogers :: Matter of a Heart

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Daniel Dropko | Vermilion, OH United States | 03/30/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sometime during the middle '70s I ducked into a Greenwich Village coffeehouse mainly to get in out of the wind, rain and cold. I left a few hours later humming "Barrett's Privateers" and feeling oh so fortunate to have encountered the artistry of Stan Rogers. His death, devastating to Canadians, was truly a loss to all of us who treasure great singing and songwriting. To say that this collection is a pale imitation of Stan's own work is a statement of the obvious. He was truly unique. That being said, I found this collection enjoyable for several reasons. The songs themselves are still great songs! (Why they didn't include "Barrett's Privateers" is beyond me, and "White Squall" needs a man's voice, but that's why it gets a four instead of a five-star rating.) Also, many of Stan's songs are well-served by group performances, as evidenced by "Northwest Passage" and "Lock-Keeper". If the performers aren't in Stan's league, it's not because they don't care about the material. Their passion for the music and it's content (a heavy dose of Canadian history, custom and geography) is there for those who have ears to hear. If you are already a fan, you risk being disappointed, though not necessarily. If you do not know this music, then by all means give this a listen. Then go out and buy "Home in Halifax", or one of the other originals. You won't regret it."

Awful. Unlistenable. Emaciated, pale and emotionless.

Charlie MacPherson | United States | 08/20/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I've also been a fan of Stan Rogers for at least 20 years. I had high hopes for a fresh interpretation of some of his best works. This isn't it.

All the vocalists combined can't match Stan's own range. The opening bar of the Mary Ellen Carter (1st song) gave me high hopes for the rest of the CD, but I was BITTERLY disappointed.The idea of a mediocre tenor singing Northwest Passage would be laughable. But that's what they did here. They absolutely butchered his music.This entire album completely lacked the emotion and passion that Stan brought to his music. It was a cheap, hollow imitation that wouldn't have stood on it's own merits in the absence of Stan, but knowing (and loving) his music made it even worse.It was the equivalent of expecting the finest Filet Mignon and getting a cold, uncooked hot dog instead. Yecch."

Not a nickel would I spend...

William L. Willard | 11/14/2000

(1 out of 5 stars)

"If sales of this CD featuring "various artists" help Stan's widow and family, so be it; but I cannot in good conscience recommend it to anyone to whom this music really means something. I had to listen to one of my old Stan Rogers albums to hear the real thing and get this pale imitation out of my system."