Early 21st Century Blues

Amazon.com
Nearing the twenty-year mark (their first album, Whites Off Earth Now!!, was released in 1986), Cowboy Junkies have devoted an album to a component that has informed their identity from the beginning: interpreting material written primarily by others. Two of the eleven songs are by Michael Timmins, the rest being arrangements of traditional material ("Two Soldiers" and "No More") and covers by a bracing mix of writers who have exerted an influence on the band over the years (Bob Dylan, John Lennon, George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Richie Havens). Much like gaining insights into someone by gazing at the titles on their bookshelf, these song choices both fit and embellish the already established portrait of Cowboy Junkies. Throughout, Margo Timmins gently unadorned bearing moves subtly between quiet sadness and quiet hopefulness. --David Greenberger

Product Description
In February, 2005 the Cowboy Junkies gathered together for five days of music making at their Clubhouse studio in Toronto. Each band member brought along a handful of their favorite songs by other writers -- songs which focused on the themes of war, violence, fear, greed, ignorance and loss. The atmosphere that week was so magical that the band decided to simply roll tape and document the sessions. The result is Early 21st Century Blues, an album filled with a very special intimacy unmatched since the Junkies released their landmark The Trinity Session album 18 years ago. Early 21st Century Blues features interpretations of songs from artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and John Lennon, plus two new Junkies originals, and is the Junkies' own "small document of hope" for the times we live in.

Early 21st Century Blues,Cowboy Junkies,Zoe Records,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Alternative Pop/Rock,Canada,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Early 21st Century Blues

Average customer rating: Best Covers disappointment Good but not Great Cowboy Junkies' return to form Not that impressed...

Early 21st Century Blues Cowboy Junkies Manufacturer: Zoe Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Open Road At the End of Paths Taken One Soul Now The Trinity Session Lay It Down ASIN: B000A6T2M6 Release Date: 2005-08-16

Tracks:

1. License to Kill
2. Two Solders
3. December Skies
4. This World Dreams Of
5. Brothers Under the Bridge
6. Youre Missing
7. Handouts in the Rain
8. Isnt It a Pity
9. No More
10. I Dont Want to Be a Soldier
11. One

Amazon.com

Nearing the twenty-year mark (their first album, Whites Off Earth Now!!, was released in 1986), Cowboy Junkies have devoted an album to a component that has informed their identity from the beginning: interpreting material written primarily by others. Two of the eleven songs are by Michael Timmins, the rest being arrangements of traditional material ("Two Soldiers" and "No More") and covers by a bracing mix of writers who have exerted an influence on the band over the years (Bob Dylan, John Lennon, George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Richie Havens). Much like gaining insights into someone by gazing at the titles on their bookshelf, these song choices both fit and embellish the already established portrait of Cowboy Junkies. Throughout, Margo Timmins gently unadorned bearing moves subtly between quiet sadness and quiet hopefulness. --David Greenberger

Album Description

In February, 2005 the Cowboy Junkies gathered together for five days of music making at their Clubhouse studio in Toronto. Each band member brought along a handful of their favorite songs by other writers -- songs which focused on the themes of war, violence, fear, greed, ignorance and loss. The atmosphere that week was so magical that the band decided to simply roll tape and document the sessions. The result is Early 21st Century Blues, an album filled with a very special intimacy unmatched since the Junkies released their landmark The Trinity Session album 18 years ago. Early 21st Century Blues features interpretations of songs from artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and John Lennon, plus two new Junkies originals, and is the Junkies' own "small document of hope" for the times we live in.

Customer Reviews:

Best Covers.......2007-01-10

The Cowboy Junkies have been one of my favorites for a long time and when this album came out I was excited to hear them cover some new type material. Covers of John Lennon, U2 and Springsteen. Wow, my favorite modern blues band covering some of my favorite classic rock. I was in heaven. Excellent buy for any Junkies fan.

disappointment.......2006-07-07

this is one album by the cowboy junkies i won't be buying. such a let down. man, just get back to writing good music.

Good but not Great.......2006-06-29

I haven't listened to this one as much as I thought I would. All the numbers are at least OK, but to me none were memorable. There isn't a Misguided Angel or Powder Finger here. I am a fan of the Cowboy Junkies and I will listen to this many times, but I don't think it will be one of my favorites.

Cowboy Junkies' return to form.......2006-04-24

The Cowboy Junkies' 2004 studio album "One Soul Now" was flat-out boring, and the low point of a long way downward from the "Trinity Sessions" days. I didn't know whether the band still had a good record left in them, and I am glad to say that I was wrong.

"Early 21st Century Blues" (11 tracks, 59 min.) finds the Canadian foursome bringing us a mix of originals, covers and traditionals, to great effect. The 2 originals "December Skies" and "This World Dreams Of" are among the best songs Michael Timmins has brought in a LONG time. The covers include 2 from Burce Springsteen, of which "Brothers Under the Bridge" is outstanding, as well as Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, U2 and George Harrison, whose "Isn't It a Pity" is another highlight. The John Lennon cover "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier" is terrible, though, with a... rap (!?!) in the middle of the song. This alone keeps me from giving this album not more than 4 stars.

That said, the band is in great musical form throughout, and Margo Timmins' voice is as beautiful as ever. 2006 marks the 20th anniversary of this remarkable band. "Early 21st Century Blues" is a return to great form, and makes me excited again what Cowboy Junkies are up to next. If you like CJ, check out a band called Over the Rhine, with a very similar style of music (in fact, OtR and CJ have toured together on more than one occastion), you will not be disappointed.

Not that impressed..........2005-12-28

This seems a little perfunctory in execution and not as inspired as a new Cowboy Junkies studio album usually is. While these may be favorites of the band, they drag on for me, not to mention that Springsteen and U2 seem more commercial in the selection here than worthy. I don't hear Margo's voice rising above tribute level either.

I'd rather Mike write his own collection of gritty, war protest songs than to hear a collection of mostly covers by big names. Oh, well.

Average customer rating: Finally another great album!!

Early 21st Century Blues Cowboy Junkies Manufacturer: Cooking Vinyl ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0009VY6NM Release Date: 2005-08-02

Tracks:

1. License to Kill
2. Two Soldiers
3. December Skies
4. This World Dreams Of
5. Brothers Under the Bridge
6. You're Missing
7. Handouts in the Rain
8. Isn't It a Pity
9. No More
10. I Don't Want to Be a Soldier
11. One

Album Description

The Junkies wrote two of their own songs, 'December Skies' and 'This World Dreams Of' for this new album and the rest is made up of covers. They instructed one another to bring in two or three songs, written by others and the themes of the songs had to relate to war, violence, fear, greed, ignorance, loss. In doing so, their goal was ''to create our own small document of hope.'' As one might expect, the band covers songs by John Lennon, Bob Dylan, U2 and Bruce Springsteen, among others. 11 tracks. Cooking Vinyl. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Finally another great album!! .......2005-09-27

I have been a great fan of the "Junkies". These last 4 years I gave up though. Their intimate music had grown to something difficult to listen to. Proberly a way not to repeat themself, but not a sucess.

All that the Junkies need are good songs and not to find a different path. Wit this song, although mostly written by other artists, they found back the sound of the beginning, caution horses and of course the trinity sessions.

Happy that they are back!

Rap Music:

1. Electric Blue Watermelon
2. Everything in Transit [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics]
3. Finally Woken
4. Frances the Mute
5. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
6. Greetings from Imrie House [Enhanced]
7. Haughty Melodic
8. Hits
9. Hybrid Theory
10. In Space

Rap Music

rap music

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