Abigail Washburn - Song of the Traveling Daughter
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Free Music Notes for Song of the Traveling Daughter
Free Music Review: A new kind of hybrid - and wonderful
Hit: 5 Stars
First and foremost, Abigail Washburn is immensely listenable. Her voice is simple and eloquent, matching almost perfectly to her material. But the material . . . Washburn has clearly captured the feel of American roots music (I wouldn't call it bluegrass) in her own material, and it's difficult for the average listener to tell some of her compositions from traditional ones. This is all to the good, as the traditional has been mined and remined. Washburn gives us new tunes that sound like the old, and that's a very pleasant thing.
But she has other material as well. A number of the pieces here are hybrids of American roots and Chinese folk, mixed in various ratios. 'Song of the Travelling Daughter' would be at home on any folk or bluegrass album with the exception that the lyrics happen to be in Chinese. Similarly the bluegrass standard 'Backstep Cindy' segues into a Chinese tune 'Purple Bamboo' with surprising smoothness. It's a fit I'd never have imagined, and it's startlingly effective. I suspect that the wonderful phrasing of 'Red & Blazing' owes a debt to Chinese folk, while 'The Lost Lamb' seems almost pure Han. The entire disk is an ear-catching, captivating mix that still has a very prominent place on my player six months after purchase.
I must also add a few words about Ben Sollee's cello (and possibly bass). Many of the arrangements involve bowed rather than plucked bass lines, and they brilliantly support and extend the music. This album would still be striking without it, but it adds another layer of excellence.
Free Music Review: Another glowing review....
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the best CD purchase I have made in a very long time. Although I have enjoyed the sound of bluegrass music on the rare occasions when I have heard it, I would never have identified as a fan. However, you don't have to be a bluegrass fan to become completely engaged in the richness, complexity, depth, artistry, and plain old toe-tapping fun of this album. I had the good luck of hearing Ms. Washburn perform live in the studios of NPR. It was immediately apparent that she is a true pioneer in her field....and her unique spirit, authenticity, and honesty ring true with every note. I enthusiastically recommend this album and look forward to her future creations.Free Music Review: Listen!
Hit: 5 Stars
Now in my 60s, I started playing banjo and guitar nearly 50 years ago, and I have spent a career studying China. How wonderful it is to hear someone trace a tradition to its roots and make it her own, playing old songs and new ones of her own creation with wit and simple elegance. Washburn xiaojie--xie xie ni. Your music lightens an old woman's heart.Free Music Review: Bluegrass in the Spirit and Bone
Hit: 5 Stars
I was trying to explain this album to a friend of mine who loves bluegrass music-- "Really, you have to listen to her sing blue grass in Chinese!" My friend shook her head emphatically, "That's not right, that just not right."
But is it right. As right as it could be.
Abigail Washburn is a musician to watch. Don't let the Chinese put you off.
Free Music Review: A Complete, Delightful, and Substantive Surprise
Hit: 5 Stars
NPR did an interview on Abigale Washburn and played a clip from Song of the Traveling Daughter. I was intrigued enough by what I heard that I came into the office and immediately ordered it from Amazon. I was not disappointed when I recieved it and listened to the whole album. I am not a fan of albums. I've been disappointed by most every album I have ever bought. I listen to two or three songs and then decide not to listen to the rest because they all start sounding the same. As you can tell I am not a big music fan. But with Abigale (as with Kate Campbell) I listened to the entire album. And then listened again. And then again. This album has dominated my listening time since I got it. Her voice is feminine and rich. Her style is wonderfully unique. Her choice and arrangement of songs is wonderfully refreshing. Can you imagine mixing Chinese and Appalachian? She does it and it works. I have other albums of Appalachian and like most other albums I can't listen to the whole thing at once because the appalachian sound comes off harsh on my ears. But Abigale is melodious and intriguing. The lyrics are substantive in their story and meaning. I hope that she can do this again on another album.