Pearls From The Oysters [Import]

Pearls From The Oysters [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
With their roots in English traditional music, the Oyster Band were responsible for the new wave of folk-rock that first crashed down in the mid-1980s. It was pedal-to-the-metal music that propelled the listener along, and they've barely let up since. They recognized the folk songs at the heart of Billy Bragg's Between the Wars and New Order's Love Vigilantes and coaxed them out, as well as writing superb originals that were folk music gussied up in Doc Marten's. The tracks here offer a selection of the Oysters' work at the time, even if some of the true classics are missing (No "Hal-an-Tow" or "Oxford Girl"). They're still around, better than ever, and now imitated by others. This recording gives you a taste of how folk-rock really began. --Chris Nickson

Product Description
1998 Snapper release featuring 30 essential recordings by this great British folk-rock band, including 'Another Quiet Night In England', 'Ashes To Ashes', 'The Generals Are Born Again' and 'Pigsty Billy'. Comparable to the Pogues, but with influences more along the lines of Van Morrison, The Chieftains and Fairport Convention. Double slimline jewel case.

Tracks:

Between The Wars
The Early Days Of A Better Nation
The Rose Of England
Another Quiet Night In England
The Lost And Found
Love Vigilantes
The Lakes Of Cool Flynn
Bold Riley
Polish Plain
Flatlands
Molly Bond
A Careless Life
Coal Not Dole
Tincans
Take Me Down

Tracks:

New York Girls
Cheekbone City
The Generals Are Born Again
Galopede
Heaven To Calcutta
Bully In The Alley
This Year Next Year
Gonna Do What I Have To Do
Too Late Now
Goal Song
Coal Creek Mine
Gamblers
Johnny Mickey Barry's/Salmon Tails Down The Water
Star Of The Count Down
The Curragh Of Kildare

Product Description

Disc 1:
1. Between The Wars
2. Early Days Of A Better Nation, The
3. Rose Of England, The
4. Another Quiet Night In England
5. Lost And Found, The
6. Love Vigilantes
7. Lakes Of Cool Flynn, The
8. Bold Riley
9. Polish Plain
10. Flatlands
11. Molly Bond
12. Careless Life, A
13. Coal Not Dole
14. Tincans
15. Take Me Down

Disc 2:
1. New York Girls
2. Cheekbone City
3. Generals Are Born Again, The
4. Galopede Heaven To Calcutta
5. Bully In The Alley
6. This Year Next Year
7. Gonna Do What I Have To Do
8. Too Late Now
9. Goal Song
10. Coal Creek Mine
11. Gamblers
12. Johnny Mickey Barry's giSalmon Tails Down The Water
13. Star Of The County Down
14. Curragh Of Kildare, The

Format: CD

Amazon.com

With their roots in English traditional music, the Oyster Band were responsible for the new wave of folk-rock that first crashed down in the mid-1980s. It was pedal-to-the-metal music that propelled the listener along, and they've barely let up since. They recognized the folk songs at the heart of Billy Bragg's Between the Wars and New Order's Love Vigilantes and coaxed them out, as well as writing superb originals that were folk music gussied up in Doc Marten's. The tracks here offer a selection of the Oysters' work at the time, even if some of the true classics are missing (No "Hal-an-Tow" or "Oxford Girl"). They're still around, better than ever, and now imitated by others. This recording gives you a taste of how folk-rock really began. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

Depends on what you own already.......2004-01-03

If I were new to The Oyster Band or only had their later albums, I'd think this album was fantastic and give it 5 stars. But I've been a fan for over ten years and seen them in concert many times. Their energetic, hard working approachable guy style is hard to resist. First time I saw them, I wanted to hate them but couldn't. After about five songs, I was swept along with the music and caught up in their energy.

I've taken several somewhat unwilling people to see them and they always leave the concert as fans. Most of them get crushes on John Jones too. And yes, I'd usually be leary of a band whose front man plays anything like an accordian, but trust me this is the most kicking melodian/accordian you will ever hear.

But, if you already own almost everything they've ever done, this is a bust. It is a great compilation of all their earlier (more straight-forward and traditional) work. They truly did choose the best from that time. But unlike their compilation Trawler, they didn't publish alternate versions of the songs. So if you already have Ride, Wide Blue Yonder and Step Outside, you pretty much have Pearls from the Oyster.

However, it is nice to have all this music in one place. New liner notes are always fun. And my copy of Wide Blue Yonder is worn out from use. So I am happy I have Pearls from the Oysters.

Introducing the Oysterband.......2000-09-04

It's a shame the Oysterband isn't better known in the States. At a time when Celtic culture is booming in popularity, the music on this offering--recorded primarily in the late 80s--still offers the freshest perspective on the traditional music of Britain and Ireland. Oysterband is still around and going strong; although their updated sound is more dense and hard-hitting, there's more honesty and urgency in the unadorned and uncluttered production of their earlier recordings.

The Oysters bring imagination and ingenuity to the tired phrase "folk-rock". Traditional ballads like "Bold Riley" and "The Lakes of Cool Flynn" are given a spare, beautiful treatment, while "Star of the County Down" becomes a driving rocker with a wicked version of "Wind that Shakes the Barley" as a coda. Equally adept at transforming nontraditional material, the band throws in a quirky and startling take on New Order's "Love Vigilantes". But the majority of the Oysters' songs are great pop originals backed by a unique combination of melodeon, fiddle, electric guitar and cello.

All that said, most Oysterband albums tend to be a little uneven, and this set is no exception. This CD might have been better off with 5 or 6 songs left off, and the omission of better songs such as "Hal-An-Tow" is perplexing. But the fact is, few of the Oysters' albums are readily available, and if you're looking for an alternative to straight traditional Celtic music (and we're not talking about The Corrs), don't pass this up. This price for a 2CD set is unbeatable--all in all a wonderful introduction to this seminal band.