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
Were happy to report that Firecracker has made appearances on four Billboard charts recently. The album has been on the Top Bluegrass Albums chart for seven weeks, including two weeks in the #2 spots. It also hit the top 10 in the Top Heatseekers (West North Central), and made appearances on the Top Heatseekers and the Top Independent Albums. Thanks to all of you for helping to make this possible!
~ Jennys Web Team
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
Hi all,
A number of new UK dates for early 2007 have been added to the Tour Dates page. Some details have to be finalized, but check them out! If you haven't already, be sure to sign up for the mailing list to receive emails when The Jennys are in your area.
~ Jennys' Web Team
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.
Acoustic Harmonies
The backporch resurgence can't solely be attributed to the success of O Brother, Where Art Thou? The backporch resurgence can't solely be attributed to the success of O Brother, Where Art Thou?, even if "Long Time Traveller" from The Wailin' Jennys new album, Firecracker, is a dead ringer for "Down in the River to Pray." Annabelle Chvostek, Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody (the three individual Jennys) reach deep into the Southern heritage for inspiration, and come up with disquieting ditties such as "Apocalypse Lullaby" and "Starlight." A line from "Devil's Paintbrush Road" sums up the mood: "If I lied and said all was well I might as well be dead."
This is a surprising turnaround. The Jennys' first record, 40 Days, was feel-good, full of feminine charm and preoccupied with romance. The success of that record propelled the trio from Winnipeg, Canada, on a non-stop world tour. And there's nothing like life on the road to show the mixed horrors and delights of the modern world.
Firecracker find The Wailin' Jennys (tomorrow, The Main Stage, 8pm) in a strange state. If the songs describe a collapsing world, then their trademark close harmonies have never sounded more rapturous. On "Long Time Traveller" they sound like a chorus of Appalachian angels.
Could it be that traditional music, born out of hard times, has relevant things to say about the way we live today? The entire line-up of the 25th Warwick Folk Festival could be enlisted to give weight to the theory. Tim Ban Eyken (tonight, The Main Stage, 8pm), best known for his contribution to Waterson:Carthy, delivers a macabre "Babies in the Wood" on his fine album Stiffs, Lovers, Holymen, Thieves; the resonance to today's headlines is uncomfortable. With the exception of the old reggae or bass 'n' drum rhythm (acoustis hip-hoppers Nizlopi play in the Market Squareon Sunday at 2pm), nothing much has changed in the past 200 years or so.
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!
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.