Weasel Tail's Dream ~The Black Lodge Singers
Jake | Alberta, Canada | 11/28/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In North America among the First Nations people, are a group of powerful singers and drummers that come from the Blackfeet Nation, they are the Black Lodge Singers. They are a family called the Scabby Robes, who go on the pow wow trail every year with friends, and they sing some of the best songs that any dancer or competing drum group will agree with. The songs that they compose range anywhere from the traditional old style from Black foot country, to the new contemporary style found strongly among the Cree Nations. This CD called "Weasel Tail's Dream: The Tradition Continues", demonstrates the talent, gift and ability that they have, to show the pow wow world, that they can produce the effective contemporary pow wow music that dancers, drum groups, and listeners love to hear.
The "Weasel Tail's Dream" CD was recorded for the purpose of dedication to their grandfather Jim Weasel Tail, who passed away in the spring of 1975. Jim taught other singer to respect the drum and told them that if they did the people who listen to their music would feel the power of it. The Scabby Robe family is living the dream of their beloved grandfather. This would have to be one of the main reasons why the Black Lodge Singers produce some of the best music. They truly respect the drum which they hold and honor their grandfather, Jim Weasel Tail.
The highlights on this CD are song numbers five, eight, nine and ten. These songs are good and catchy. Now don't get the wrong idea that these are the only good songs on this CD because it is not so, the other songs are well composed and as a whole the CD sound very good. This writer being a dancer himself writes with experience to let people know that the songs that are highlighted have been used to his advantage for doing exhibition dance performances. Anybody who has seen Black Lodge perform at a pow wow knows that they have never disappointed the dance celebration but have only added pleasure to the gathering. Black Lodge is like the flavor and spice to any good meal. You could also liken them unto the eleven herbs and spices from KFC. "Their finger licking good!"
What makes song number five sound good, it has a steady medium beat that builds up to a faster pace, and with the vocals and lyrics that John Scabby Robe adds, makes it sound like a number one hit in the top forty of the popular hip hop dance music. It's a good warm up song for the 'Men's Fancy feather War Dance' style. This piece is only two minutes and fifty-nine seconds, a perfect length of song for this kind of dance. John Scabby Robe, who is a dancer and song composer for a long number of years, really knows what it takes to have the dancers perform at top notch. He is a veteran at song making and is known for his ability to put out the best music for dancing and drumming competitions.
What makes song number eight sound good it is the composer. This song is meant for grass dancing and has a nice slow pace for the Grass Dancers to get down and do their foot. Shawn Scabby Robe composed this hit song, because like his brother John, he too is a dancer. Shawn also likes to compose the traditional Black foot style of singing and that is with no lyrical words just the plain good old straight songs from the heart. Shawn could be liken to George Straight who likes to play pure country music. Getting right down to the grass roots of music.
What makes song number nine sound good? This writer really enjoys listening to this style of song, especially when the music is composed properly. This song has two different and distinct leads to the song. The Scabby Robe brothers, who take part in singing the leads, do a very excellent job in making this piece sound smooth. This song is called the "Family Song". This writer would have to say that this is a classical song in and of itself. John composed this song, and who is also the main producer of the music on this CD.
What makes song number ten sound good? This writer would have to say that this song is good for Intertribals. This is where all the dancers get up in between dance competitions and stretch their stiff weary legs. It is when all dancers can relax and dance at their own pace and have some fun. Also this is where the drum group itself can have fun singing. It could be said that the Black Lodge is just "jamming" to the "groove". John displays the music it takes to have a great pow wow celebration.
The highlights of this CD are good and so are the other songs, but is this the Black Lodge Singers best CD? No it is not. This writer who has collected "Black Lodge" music for the last nine years, has heard them put out better and more powerful songs. Also to see 'Black Lodge" perform 'live' is by far better then listening to any CD that they have recorded. This writer will however recommend this CD "Weasel Tail's Dream: The Tradition Continues", to any one and is not in the lease bit disappointed with this recording. Why? Because it is the Black Lodge Singers, and this writer has the greatest respect and admiration for the music they produce."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1