Raise Your Head: A Retrospective

Raise Your Head: A Retrospective

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As the Poozies move on to their third lineup, it's a good time to look back over three albums and an EP, only one of which, Infinite Blue, saw American release. One consistent factor in their music has been a ladylike delicacy, which can make even a bawdy ballad like "The Widow" seem genteel. But there's also been a marvelous eclecticism about the material, pulling from traditional sources to something like Townes Van Zandt's classic "Poncho and Lefty," as well as other contemporary material. The instrumentals shimmer, mixing the harps of Mary MacMaster and Patsy Seddon, Karen Tweed's accordion, guitar and fiddle (from either Sally Barker or Kate Rusby) in nimble fashion, but it's the songs that create the most lasting impact, especially "Another Train" and the stunning "Ma Plaid." Where the Poozies will go in the future remains to be seen, but this is evidence that the trip so far has been glorious. --Chris Nickson

Tracks:

The Widow
Mr. Grapes
We Built Fires
The Mountaineer's Set
Honestly
Willie's Old Trousers
Another Train
Hey How My Johnny Lad
The Baytree Set
Company Of Women
Poncho And Lefty
Ma Plaid/Freya Dances
Maid Of Llanwellyn/Emma And Jamie's Wedding
In Another Life

Amazon.com

As the Poozies move on to their third lineup, it's a good time to look back over three albums and an EP, only one of which, Infinite Blue, saw American release. One consistent factor in their music has been a ladylike delicacy, which can make even a bawdy ballad like "The Widow" seem genteel. But there's also been a marvelous eclecticism about the material, pulling from traditional sources to something like Townes Van Zandt's classic "Poncho and Lefty," as well as other contemporary material. The instrumentals shimmer, mixing the harps of Mary MacMaster and Patsy Seddon, Karen Tweed's accordion, guitar and fiddle (from either Sally Barker or Kate Rusby) in nimble fashion, but it's the songs that create the most lasting impact, especially "Another Train" and the stunning "Ma Plaid." Where the Poozies will go in the future remains to be seen, but this is evidence that the trip so far has been glorious. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

You certainly won't be bored! .......2004-11-29

This CD is a retrospective of the first three Poozies albums. It includes the three different lineups: Mary McMaster, Patty Seddon, Karen Tweed, Sally Parker, and Kate Rusby.

As a fan of variety, I like taking the unexpected twists this CD puts you through. You've got everything from bawdy "Widow" to "Another Train," which is their version of "It's a Wonderful Life."

I wouldn't call this CD a must, but it's definitely an interesting collection and I second the sentiment that "Another Train" is worth the purchase alone.

Buy it for "Another Train".......2002-10-15

A fine album overall, but the track "Another Train" is truly exceptional and worth the price of the album by itself. Velvety a capella close harmonies delivering an inspirational message in astonishingly unsappy style:

There's another train
There always is
Maybe the next one is yours
Get up and climb aboard
Another train

Perfect document of The Poozies' career so far........2000-09-09

This somewhat premature (three albums and one EP to make up a greatest-hits set) retrospective confirms what I've felt about The Poozies all along since I discovered them in early 1999. Up until 1998, The Poozies have been more interesting than great. The Tweed-Macmaster-Seddon lineup of harps and accordions is impeccable instrumentally, and they are all excellent harmony singers, but they sorely needed that little bit of magic to make them truly great instead of merely good. Sally Barker (guitarist and lead singer for the first two Poozies albums, Chantoozies and Dansoozies) was pleasant, but her generic folk voice just didn't ignite any sparks.

Kate Rusby was that little bit of magic the group needed. Her exuberant vocal style, with a sensual, husky low end and a beautiful, joyful high register, provided The Poozies with much-needed fire. And the Rusby-Tweed-Macmaster-Seddon lineup became that rarity -- a completely equal partnership, Rusby offering up vocal prowess and personality while The Poozies provided Rusby with the best songs, vocal harmonies, and instrumental accompaniment Rusby had had up to that point.

It's a shame that this lineup only produced one album, 1998's Infinite Blue (as superlative as it is), and Raise Your Head only culls two tracks from this album. Not surprising, though, because it appears that Raise Your Head aims to supplement The Poozies American catalogue. Since Infinite Blue is still in print but Chantoozies is only available as an import (and I have yet to spot Dansoozies anywhere), Raise Your Head serves as a kind of "Poozies with Sally Barker" overview.

On the pre-Rusby tracks, the instrumental work is always nice, but once again the gruop was hurt by Barker's somewhat bland lead-vocal work. Raise Your Head's attraction to me are the two tracks pulled from an EP never released on these shores. "The Widow" is the best vocal arrangement this group has done yet, Rusby's beautiful, low voice accompanied by the intricately woven voices of the other Poozies. In a word, stunning. And the instrumental "Mr. Grapes" is another one of those dizzyingly delicious Poozie instrumentals, a swirl of harps and accordion, sonically beautiful, further aided by this group's unique attention to rhythm, which makes even its folksy instrumentals groove as much as any guitar anthem.

Rusby has now departed the group, and it's too bad this collection doesn't include any new material from the new Poozies lineup, Mary Macmaster, Patsy Seddon and Karen Tweed with new member Eilidh Shaw. I await the next step with interest. For now, Raise Your Head is a good introduction to the group for people who have yet to get a taste of The Poozies. The two EP tracks really were worth the whole price (and my rating). I'd say that if you have this and Infinite Blue, you've already heard the group's best output so far.

A must listen.......2000-07-22

I stumbled across the Poozies while channel surfing through my favorite Public Radio Stations. My first listen was to the amazing song Another Train. This song haunted me for days, so of course I had to have it. I am thrilled with the CD. These women are amazing. I am a fan of Celtic music, but I don't think you need to be, to enjoy this glorious sound. Do yourself a favor and relax and enjoy.

Another Train.......2000-06-27

It's an amazing album of great female musicians and singers. I can not tell how moved I am by 'Another Train.' It's the best song I've heard in a long time to truly reflect and think about what life is all about.

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