Matapedia

Matapedia

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Hard to believe it's been 20 years since the first McGarrigle album. Maybe it's because they've always floated so much on the fringe of things--not quite folk, not quite country, not quite fitting into any pigeonhole beyond lovely songwriting, harmonies, and singing. And now they're at it again with Matapedia, which includes the gorgeous "Goin' Back to Harlan" (recently covered by Emmylou), and tales of lives going by. This is the kind of music that should be made by (some) mature adults--thoughtful, often introspective, but with a joy in the passage of time. All the musical crap that seems to dog so much that's tagged as "adult"--which you could also call easy listening--has been filtered out by quality control, leaving arrangements that are lean, often sparse, and muscular, hitting middle age without any flab showing, but synapses still clicking furiously. Oh yes, and it's the perfect choice for those rainy fall days. --Chris Nickson

Tracks:

Matapedia
Goin' Back To Harlan
I Don't Know
Hang Out Your Heart
Arbre
Jacques Et Gilles
Why We Must Die
Song For Gaby
Talk About It
The Bike Song

Amazon.com

Hard to believe it's been 20 years since the first McGarrigle album. Maybe it's because they've always floated so much on the fringe of things--not quite folk, not quite country, not quite fitting into any pigeonhole beyond lovely songwriting, harmonies, and singing. And now they're at it again with Matapedia, which includes the gorgeous "Goin' Back to Harlan" (recently covered by Emmylou), and tales of lives going by. This is the kind of music that should be made by (some) mature adults--thoughtful, often introspective, but with a joy in the passage of time. All the musical crap that seems to dog so much that's tagged as "adult"--which you could also call easy listening--has been filtered out by quality control, leaving arrangements that are lean, often sparse, and muscular, hitting middle age without any flab showing, but synapses still clicking furiously. Oh yes, and it's the perfect choice for those rainy fall days. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

Enduring, endearing.......2006-08-01

I hadn't listened to this album in a few years, but after seeing The Squid and the Whale the other day, it reminded me of my few, short years of living in Park Slope, which reminded me of the music I listened to while there.
So, coming home after the movie I dug out Matapedia and have been listening to non-stop for two days.
The lyrics, harmonies and music still move me just as much as they did six or seven years ago. Not many albums can still make me cry years down the road.

After three listenings..........2006-01-09

Perhaps "Labradorman" above hit the nail on the head- this might be a work that takes a few listens to let it sink in. The CD is rather subtle with the intricacies weaved in deep. The music is nothing short of quietly stunning, and the title track "Matapedia" is simply one of the most beautiful and haunting songs I have heard in my 41 years. I caught this track on a college radio station while driving home the other day and had to google The McGarrigles immediately (there's a strange phrase- eh?). For this one track alone, the CD is more than worth the expenditure. But I'm slowly beginning to see the eloquence in the other tracks as well. If you do anything, sample Matapedia and procede from there.

Everyday Listening.......2004-02-21

I only wish there was more of this.

Music from our Archetypes.......2003-01-14

I thought I'd check out these two McGarrigle chicks after hearing them on Nick Cave's best album in some years.

About 30 seconds of the title track told me that I had found a whole new musical seam to mine. Since the other writers talk about their lyrics, I'll talk about their striking musical palette. On this album you will hear accordion, violin, wonderfully old-fashioned piano, banjo, dobro and of course guitar along with tastefully applied bass and drums or other percussion. These instruments are deployed in a fashion more French than the more customary Southern country convention. Their somehow both fragile and enduring voices and atypical song structures will make you think you're hearing the best and least derivative of the youngest talents. And, then, they will turn around and give you a song with chord choices and structure that seem to come from the time of Stephen Foster. As proudly Canadian as anyone since Ian Tyson and as old time North American as anyone I can think of, the McGarrigle sisters are a fine fine wine to roll around in your ears and heart on any cold night with a warm fire. It's no surprise that Nick Cave appreciates them.

Buy this.

More amazing music from 2 amazing people.......2002-03-11

Matapedia, the title track alone is worth the price of this album, in fact, I would gladly have paid [money], maybe more just for that one song. It is probably one of the best songs I have heard in a long time, why it is not a classic, I don't know. But the other songs, especially Going Back to Harlan, are all superb material, from two of the most talented and underappreciated performers today. Get it now!

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