These three Canadian songbirds knit together their distinctive personalities, songs and voices to create a coherent harmonious whole. These three Canadian songbirds knit together their distinctive personalities, songs and voices to create a coherent harmonious whole. The songs are mostly gentle; a kind of chamber bluegrass full of spiritual imagery, the playing that surrounds them like the frame around a painting; utilitarian and beautiful in its own right. Nicky Mehta seems to have a greater degree of pop sensibility: ǃ
The Wailin' Jennys - Firecracker
Winnipeg folk trio The Wailin' Jennys are making no mistakes as they progress with grace, harmony and assurance Winnipeg folk trio The Wailin' Jennys are making no mistakes as they progress with grace, harmony and assurance ǃ
Firecracker - The Wailin' Jennys
The don't wail and their names are Ruth, Nicky and Annabelle. Not a Jenny among them. The don't wail and their names are Ruth, Nicky and Annabelle. Not a Jenny among them. But otherwise the Jennys are aptly named. Obviously, they're Canadian. And they strum banjos and mandolins and squeeze accordions, while harmonising on songs of romantic travail in the face of all-encompassing nature. They're less self-consciously kooky than the Be Good Tanyas, less literary, and much less odd-socks-and-cardigany. But if you ever connected with the Tanyas's musical parts, then you'll connect with the Jennys', which are more refined. Quiet, warm, subtle, mellifluous, and not unaware of Alison Krauss. Almost too good to be true, then.
The Wailin' Jennys - Firecracker
I'm always excited when I get a new CD to listen to, especially if I'm going to review it. I put it in, turn it up, and wait for my very first reaction. In this case, it was, "Holy crap, is this good!" I'm always excited when I get a new CD to listen to, especially if I'm going to review it. I put it in, turn it up, and wait for my very first reaction. In this case, it was, "Holy crap, is this good!" Harmonies like these, wrapped around an acoustic stream of stringed instruments, quickly reduce me shivers, tears, and puddles. Even after listening to this numerous times in order to write this review, I can't get the damn thing out of my car stereo. It still kills me every time.
Firecracker is the second CD by the Jennys, but it's the first since Annabelle Chvostek came into the group following the departure of an original member. With Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody, this trio has found a synchronicity that I don't think I have ever experienced. This gem blends a tasty mix of country, folk, gospel, and bluegrass into one fine collection of songs. The Jennys have written 12 of the 13 songs on this CD, each member contributing four tunes with a spine-tingling interpretation of a traditional tune thrown in.
The voices come like nectar from these songs, with simple yet powerful, poetic lyrics. The melodies are a gentle and unpredictable rollercoaster that I want to ride again and again. The musicianship is stellar, presenting a delicious recipe of mandolin, violin, electric guitar, banjo, dobro, trumpet, and bass, all mixed in various portions across the project. But it's the voices, I say, the voices.
The songs range from mournful ballads to romping country tunes. My favorites fall somewhere in the middle of this range, although they're all pretty darn good. “Glory Bound” turns a banjo into a soulful instrument when placed next to the harmonic hallelujahs in this song. “Swallow” lifts these ladies cheerfully upward upon fluffy clouds of trumpet while perfectly evoking the image of a swallow swooping across the water.
Three of these numbers have a country rock feel, and the Jennys deliver this style better than most. Each one has a terrific, catchy chorus with each song building in strength from start to finish. “Things That You Know” reminds us that there is always "peace somewhere around the bend." “This Heart of Mine” and “Some Good Thing” lament, in a rather upbeat manner, about love, the latter starting out, "Think of this heart as an old accident."
The unbelievable voices shine on the a cappella “Long Time Traveler,” the one traditional tune here. In some ways, this is the most compelling track with its ethereal and orchestral harmonies melting the listener. I really can't believe how good these ladies sound together. Really.
“Prairie Town” highlights Ruth's soprano vividly. She sings with so much confidence and the beauty of her voice is improved by the conversational style of her delivery.
“Apocalypse Lullaby” and “Begin” and “Avila” are soulful ballads with graceful lyrics and lilting melodies. The first contains the amazing phrase, "tetrahedron blue," and “Begin,” much to my surprise, is about starting over, not about the former Israeli Prime Minister as you might suspect.
Upbeat bluegrass is represented here with the opening track, “The Devil's Paintbrush Road,” and the mandolin-driven title track, Firecracker. These are both outstanding examples of a contemporary bluegrass sound built around a singer/songwriter mentality.
,br> The attitude of this trio is nicely summed up in "Some Good Thing" when they sing "Come on baby let's go ahead and live." They are definitely taking their own advice.
Well, I hope I made it clear that I love this CD. In case I haven't, let me just say that it's the best CD of the year; at least in my own little universe.
Great job, Jennys! Come back to Madison!
Firecracker - The Wailin' Jennys
Folkin’ brilliant Canadian country with a touch of bluegrass. Folk artists walk a fine line between being original and being too pretentious and self-important. On Firecracker, Winnipeg’s The Wailin’ Jennys have walked that line with balance and grace... Folkin’ brilliant Canadian country with a touch of bluegrass.
Folk artists walk a fine line between being original and being too pretentious and self-important. On Firecracker, Winnipeg’s The Wailin’ Jennys have walked that line with balance and grace, producing a mature record that mixes folk, bluegrass and country melodies with earthy, spiritual poetry and imagery.
A deep sense of mystery permeates the entire album. On "Glory Bound," a gospel song about the sweet hereafter, the Jennys are full of anticipation: "when I’m in my restin’ place/I’ll look on my mother’s face." The soft banjo- plucking and strong harmonies of the "hallelujahs" in the chorus will move even the most cynical soul.
There are laments, too, for our suffering world. The lonely-sounding "Starlight," talks about how "the earth is far away from any kind of heaven." In "Avila," the Jennys sing sorrowfully about how "O sweet peace/never have you fallen/never have you fallen upon this town."
But the record isn’t weighed down heavily by any kind of self-righteous profundity. It’s deep without being elitist, and has plenty of optimistic moments. Songs like "Some Good Thing," a country song about the possibilities of love, bring moments of lightness.
5/5
The Wailin' Jennys - Firecracker
A punster might call this Canadian trio the Mason Chicks; comparisons to their Texas counterparts are inevitable. But the Wailin’ Jennys--Annabelle Chvostek, Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody--put a folk spin on north-of-the border harmonizing that crosses genres A punster might call this Canadian trio the Mason Chicks; comparisons to their Texas counterparts are inevitable. But the Wailin’ Jennys--Annabelle Chvostek, Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody--put a folk spin on north-of-the border harmonizing that crosses genres. Sharing songwriting credits and rotating lead vocals, they add an Appalachian twist to “Swallow,” throw a bit of gospel into “Glory Bound” and “Starlight” without moving into preacher mode, take a quick lick at the blues with “The Devil’s Paintbrush Road” and add a touch of enviro-political commentary in “Apocalypse Lullaby.” Their a cappella version of the traditional “Long Time Traveler” is pitch-perfect--proof that the Jennys have it all. If you can’t catch them live at California Worldfest in Grass Valley, don’t miss Firecracker.
The Wailin' Jennys - Firecracker
Regardless of their clever name, The Wailin’ Jennys don’t wail at all Regardless of their clever name, The Wailin’ Jennys don’t wail at all. Their vocals’ country element calls to mind The Cox Family or Alison Krauss more than The Outlaws.
Cara Luft’s departure and replacement by Annabelle Chvostek has, if anything, left the Canadian trio more sophisticated while still rustic. Longing of the human spirit permeates their compositionsǃ
The Wailin' Jennys - Firecracker
Firecracker is the third record from Winnipeg songbird trio The Wailin’ Jennys. To their credit, they avoid the shiny commercial trappings of the Dixie Chicks and instead present honest, lyrically solid songs that are given a lightly-buffed roots-music treatment Firecracker is the third record from Winnipeg songbird trio The Wailin’ Jennys. To their credit, they avoid the shiny commercial trappings of the Dixie Chicks and instead present honest, lyrically solid songs that are given a lightly-buffed roots-music treatment. All the necessary ingredients required to make the cash registers sing are there though. They can definitely sing, the tunes have a low-key hooky charm to them and the musicianship is excellent. Of particular note are the contributions of stringmeister Kevin Breit. The only drawback to this CD being all it could have been is the tendency towards medium-tempo material, however repeated listening reveal many fine touches in the background. Requires listener participation but yields its rewards in return. B+