Rock of Erin

Rock of Erin

Track Listings

1. Welcome

2. Rock of Erin

3. Dawning of the Day

4. Prison Ships

5. County Down

6. Foggy Dew

7. Roddy McCorley

8. Battle Cry of Freedom

9. Soldier Boy

10. Angelus Bell

11. Oro,Oro,Oro

12. My Son John

13. Off the Philadelphia

14. Shady Grove

15. Mara Lyn

16. God Save Ireland

17. Minstrel Boy

18. Back Home in Derry

19. A Soldier's Song

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
The 69th Pennsylvania Irish Volunteers - A Civil War Band ann ounces the release of "Rock of Erin," a CD combining Irish Folk and Civil War songs. The band consisting of 20 Civil War re-enactors, is named for a Union regiment coprised mostly of Irish immigrants, known for repelling Pickett's Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg. Clad in Union blue uniforms during performances, musicians and singers combine music with Civil war history lessons. In 1999, the re-enactors of the 69th were recognized by former Mayor Ed Rendell with the Philadelphia Medial of Honor. Proceeds from the bands 2001 song book went to "The Irish Echo's Emerald Fund", to aid the families of Emerald Society members on the NYFD/NYPD who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks. In 2002, proceeds from performances and sales of the song book and CD will be donated the the Civil War Preservation Trust, America's largest non-profit organizaton devoted to the preservation of Civil War Battlefields, ! and other preservation & educational projects.

Product Description
While the mix of Celtic Folk and Civil War music may not seem an obvious combination to some, the common thread through all of our songs is the celebration of those who have fought against persecution and survived great personal loss throught American, Irish and World history.

Tracks:

Get Happy
Paper Moon
Coucou
Melody
They Say It's Spring
I Was A Little Too Loney (You Were A Little Too Late)
Sing You Sinners
Rhose Island Is Famous For You
Something's Gotta Give
Just One Of Those Things
If You A Viper
Thanks For The Boogie Ride
Don't Worry 'Bout Me

Amazon.com

Plenty of contemporary artists have addressed the classic American songbook, but few have romped through it with more playful verve than Erin McKeown. Fans of Norah Jones will find a kindred spirit here, though McKeown's singing is sunnier and her instrumentation more syncopated. (Or, since music like this has become increasingly associated with upscale coffee shops, more caffeinated.) From the giddy rendition of "Get Happy" that opens the album through the calypso spin given "Paper Moon" and the ruminative recasting of "Just One of Those Things," guitarist McKeown and band seem more interested in breathing fresh life into great songs than embalming them with nostalgic respect. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

Great Album.......2007-05-07

This is a great album - heard a profile about it on NPR.
Nice remakes of some old classics.
Amazon was great with ordering and delivery.

Clever, hip refashioning of old jazz and blues standards.......2007-04-24

A modern gal, rock-folk naif Erin McKeown is both canny and coy in her appropriation of the jazz-standards canon. While her kooky arrangements and half-giddy, half-deadpan vocal performances call a great deal of attention to themselves, McKeown's obvious love for the material and playful verve will probably win most folks over. To her credit, McKeown hasn't just trotted out an overly-reverential pop-vocals showcase, but rather has crafted a distinctive album that illuminates these old songs in a way that her contemporary audience can really glom onto. The arrangements have an off-center quirkiness that recalls the Tom Waits/Marc Ribot school of postmodern cabaret jazz, while her vocals owe a powerful debt to Blossom Dearie. Hard to say whether it's a testament to the craftsmanship of the songs, or to McKeown's aren't-I-clever originality, but the lyrics really come to life on several tracks, notably "They Say It's Spring," "I Was A Little Too Lonely" and "Rhode Island Is Famous For You," which are the big successes on this album. Jazz purists are less than likely to love this album, but coffeehouse folksters will go koo-koo over it... Hopefully they will also be inspired to check out the source material, particularly from singers such as Blossom Dearie, Anita O'Day and songwriters like Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, et al. Either way, this album has a lot to offer to attentive listeners. (DJ Joe Sixpack)

delightful.......2007-02-19

This was my first exposure to Erin Mckeown. She's great fun on these standards. I especially am taken with the prominence of the percussion in new and playful ways that help me to hear these songs in a really fresh way.

Good Not Great.......2007-02-13

Easy to enjoy because Mckeown has such a wonderful voice, but when the album is finished it's less than fulfiling.

A rockin' take on classic songs.......2007-01-27

Erin's voice soars, the band is tight, and the lyrics are classics for a reason. A must buy!

Average customer rating:

Grand Indeed!
Utterly charming
amazing!
Grandly Fantastic
not so grand...

Grand
Erin McKeown
Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00009L524
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

Slung-Lo
Cinematic
Taste of You
Born to Hum
Civilians
Envelopes of Glassine
How to Be a Lady
Better Wife
Cosmopolitans
Lucky Day
Innocent Fiction
James!
Starlit
Vera

From Amazon.co.uk

Erin McKeown's third album is to be commended for its sense of adventure. There are 14 tracks on Grand and they encompass at least that number of musical styles, among them winsome indie-pop, gentle country-rock, lushly orchestrated barrel-organ stompery and pretty electronica that verges on trip-hop. When trying to frame McKeown in terms of other artists, you end up with an equally impressively diverse peer group: Tanya Donelly, Rickie Lee Jones, Bjork, Liquorice and Shivaree (with whom McKeown shares a drummer, George Javori).

An album this stylistically promiscuous needs a fairly imposing central personality to hold it all together, and McKeown just about manages on this score, as well. Her voice, while somewhat cutesy and cloying, never becomes overbearingly so--it's at its best on a lovely version of the Judy Garland standard "Lucky Day"--and she's an engaging narrator of her tales. There aren't enough songwriters to whom it would occur to write a song in the form of a letter from Igor Stravinsky, holed up in Hollywood in the 1940s while he waited in vain for Dylan Thomas to recover from tuberculosis so the pair could write an opera together. --Andrew Mueller

Customer Reviews:

Grand Indeed!.......2005-05-31

This is one of those rare discs that grows on me the more I listen to it. It's catchy and upbeat, so it works as pure ear candy in the background when I have guests. But it also works in a more intimate setting, in headphones while walking or working out, because there's quite a bit going on in the lyrics too.

Erin McKeown has a fascinating voice. It's kind of tangy, like Dido or Rachael Yamagata, and she brings subtly different vocal characterizations to the different songs. She's not just singing, she's acting, which is appropriate, because one of Grand's themes is the golden age of film. Judy Garland is referenced in two songs, "cinematic" and "vera," and used to perform a third, "lucky day." "cosmopolitans" and "a better wife" debunk hollywood fictions of the ideal life, but the jazzy vocals and music lends a layer of spunky irony. "Cosmopolitans" warns me that "loneliness is expected if not predicted," and although I get the message, I can't help immediately singing along with the insanely catchy, sedative-seeking chorus that follows: "painless! don't you wish you were weightless! famous!"

This is the first Erin McKeown album I purchased (I bought it after hearing "a better wife," which is unlike any other song i've heard recently). I've never seen her perform. Some McKeown fans say this album is too mainstream; compared to her previous work it may be more radio-friendly. (I do find the chorus of "James" reminiscent of Jem's "24!") But in my opinion, this album is far from mainstream. It's catchy, but it's also quirky. The music is retro-influenced. The lyrics are clever. There is only one song I don't like on this album ("vera", kind of drab). And there is only one thing I don't love about this album: it's too well-crafted to be confessional. McKeown uses the term "lady" incessantly on this album. She's very aware of appearances, especially when she's mocking them; and I feel like the emotions here are filtered, so this isn't a good album for cathartic moods (unless you want to be cheered up despite yourself)! But overall I love "Grand". It's fun, it's intelligent, it's my favorite album right now, and I will definitely buy McKeown's next as soon as it comes out.

Utterly charming.......2005-01-05

In Grand, Mckeown blends 60s-era pop and folk with results that are charming and addictive. The quirky songs songs cover everything from the straightforward (bad relationships and career doubts) to the fantastical (a command dance performance), all in a bouncy, cheery beat. A blogger I read said that Mckeown is "playing the soundtrack to my life." I couldn't agree more.

amazing!.......2004-05-27

so great. love it and all the rest of her work. this may be the best (at least today). buy it!

Grandly Fantastic.......2004-01-27

I had not heard of Erin McKeown until this past December when she did an interview and played some songs live on my favorite radio station, WNCW, (wncw.org). She came across as genuine, funny, articulate and concerned about her musical integrity. I ended up downloading/purchasing 'Grand' from iTunes and loved it! In fact, so much so, that I'm now buying the CD from Amazon so I can get the full fidelity of the music.

This is one of those albums that just grabs you. It's been number 1 in my rotation since December. It's trippy, fun, full of life and highly recommended.

not so grand..........2004-01-08

First, let me say - I really wanted to LOVE this album. Not just like - love, people. I've seen Erin several times, every chance I can get. I have never been disappointed, even when she was playing the material from the album Grand. She is still a fantastic singer/songwriter/performer.

BUT, this album has left a hole... I hate to pigeonhole her and ask that she stay true to her original form on the first two albums... However, this album didn't feel like it was so much her anymore. A lot has to do with the band, but the melodies were much more Popish with only an inkling every once in a while of original style.

Lyrics are still good and her singing has never been better.

Tracks:

Intro
Heaven Release Us
Hunger
Blackbirds
House You're Living In
Didn't They?
Louise
Thom II
Little White Dove
Softly Moses
Long Island Sound
You Don't Know
I'll Be Alright

Amazon.com

Although these four Generation X folkies have all released albums on their own, their shared live performances have gone furthest in winning fans of chiefly acoustic, quasi-feminist confessionalists like the Story, Ani DiFranco, and Dar Williams. To their credit, Rose Polenzani, Erin McKeown, Jess Klein, and Beth Amsel harmonize together sweetly--as on Maggie Simpson's secular gospel tune "Hunger"--but they're just as likely to fall back on cloying vocal gimmicks (McKeown can sound like a Jeff Buckley imitator) as lay their hearts on the line. The four save the latter for their lyrics, though unless you're a twentysomething member of the disenchanted white middle class, you'll likely be puzzled or pained by lines like "I want to cut myself/ but it looks like it hurts a lot." Given the four's youth and energy, their song craft may yet catch up to their already apparent gifts as musicians and performers. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

The Fantastic Future of Folk Music.......2005-08-15

Beth Amsel, Jess Klein, Rose Polenzani, and Erin McKeown are all extraordinarily talented singer-songwriters, each with their own very distinct styles of writing and performing. Any fan of modern American folk music is unlikely to be disappointed in any of their solo albums, and this well-orchestrated collaboration is a fantastic display of the future of the genre.

Amsel's voice has been described by Daniel Gewertz of The Boston Herald as "simply one of the most beautiful on today's folk scene," and I'd dare anyone to try to prove him wrong. Her sultry, powerful voice, combined with stellar songwriting skills, truly make her talent stand out on this album.

Jess Klein and Erin McKeown are folk-rock heroes, performing their respective "hits" ("Little White Dove" and "Blackbirds") along with a selection of other fantastic and lesser-known songs. Both skilled far beyond their years, their songs are catchy and eminently approachable.

Rose Polenzani, with her girl-next-door sweetness and her earnest delivery, rounds out the quartet. She so easily channels your every female friend, girlfriend, and sister that one can't help but adore her from the very start. Her voice blends effortlessly as a stellar backup, but it stands out quite well on its own on each of Polenzani's songs, most especially the catchy and powerful "You Don't Know," on which she receives a capable assist from Erin McKeown's guitar.

What other reviewers might view as "vocal gimmicks" on the album, I see as unique and eminently pleasant styles of performance. If you never got a chance to see Voices on the Verge perform live, then you missed out on a truly great concert - but do yourself a favor and buy this album anyway. You may not know it yet, but these women are four of your new favorite artists just waiting to be discovered.

Soulful, Thoughtful Songwriting.......2004-12-11

I picked this up a couple years ago after I heard an interview with them on NPR. It's one of my must-haves in the car and at work. Their songwriting is rich, and their singing is utterly engaging.

Excellent work.......2004-11-29

This is one of the CD cases that stays on top of the CD player most of the time because the CD simply stays in the CD player. Fabulous live sound, tight harmonies, quirky compositions, never predictable. I LOVE this CD. Great work. It has been inspirational to my own a cappella group, The Muses. www.ashevillemuses.com

3100 miles of listening pleasure!.......2003-01-06

On a recent road trip, my husband asked if I had anything "decent" in my van that we could listen to. He asked me for Sinead O'connor, but I assured him he would enjoy these female vocalists equally... Fast forward to 3000 miles later, and he was still popping in this cd whenever the engine started up. Back at home, he is still humming the tunes (as is my 7 year old) around the house. If you find that it's hard to find a CD that pleases everyone, try this little number out. My family has vastly different listening tastes, but on this one we agreed... for 3100 miles of listening and beyond!

4 parts make a whole........2002-02-27

I bought this CD as I already owned Jess Kleins' "Draw Them Near" and Rose Polenzanis "Anybody" so I thought I'd take a chance. Boy I'm so glad I did. 4 singers with different styles when they get together make a perfect whole. Each sing lead vocals on 3 tracks and are perfectly backed up by the others. It is unfair to pick stand-out tracks as they all have something to offer, however "Blackbirds" and "Heaven Release Me" are songs I can't get out of my head. Buy this CD, you will not regret it.
Since I purchased this I have managed to get Erin & Beth's solo CDs' - Well worth listening to.

Erin Brockovich: Motion Picture Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

Another splendid Newman soundtrack
More often that not less is more, but alas, here it is not.
Some fantasic tracks
Too short

Erin Brockovich: Motion Picture Soundtrack
Thomas Newman
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2000-04-04

Tracks:

Useless
Xerox
Pro Bono
Classifieds
Annabelle
On The Plume
Chicken Fat Lady
Lymphocytes
Miss Wichita
Two Wrong Feet
What About You
Redemption Day - Sheryl Crow
Chromium 6
Malign
Holding Ponds
No Colon
Occasional Tombstones
Xerox Copy
Technically A Woman
Water Board
333 Million
Hinkley Reverse Mix
Everyday Is A Winding Road - Sheryl Crow

Amazon.com

In scoring Steven Soderbergh's litigation-themed hit (wherein Julia Roberts' tough-as-nails/sexy-mom character claws her way to an entry-level legal assistant job, then brings a multi-billion dollar industrial polluter to its knees), Thomas Newman again stakes his claim as Hollywood's most consistently inventive young composer. Or make that reinventive--Newman breaths fresh life into the traditional, theme-based scoring concept (perhaps not surprisingly; his father Alfred Newman was one of Hollywood's Golden Age masters), imbuing the film's characters with deceptively simple yet distinctly modern minimalist motifs that pulse with dramatic energy. Using a mix of electric and acoustic pianos and his by-now-familiar array of eclectic, sometimes exotic, percussion wed to an astute mastery of studio technique, Newman gets inside the narrative and drives it with masterful subtlety. Another bonus: Sheryl Crow's "Everyday Is a Winding Road" and "Redemption Day" seem an organic part of Newman's score rather than tacked-on marketing afterthoughts. All in all, it's another gem from American cinema's musical Zen master. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Another splendid Newman soundtrack.......2002-07-28

While I have to agree with previous reviewers complaining about the short tracks on this CD, the quality of the music itself is absolutely top-notch. Newman shines in intimate, keyboard-centered music, and here we have some exquisite examples of this minimalist approach. "Miss Wichita," for instance, is heartbreakingly pure, communicating Brockovich's readjusted expectations for herself even more clearly than the scene's dialogue did.

I've been a fan of Newman's work since seeing "Scent of a Woman" and being transfixed by his luminous opening theme for that movie. "Erin Brockovich" is another quirkier sountrack, along the lines of "American Beauty," as opposed to the more symphonic sountracks such as "Scent" or the new "Road to Perdition." Newman is at his best painting miniatures rather than murals, and this sountrack gleams with insight.

More often that not less is more, but alas, here it is not........2001-02-10

I agree with the previous reviewers: the content is good, but too short. When I first played the CD I thought it was a sampler of the soundtrack - the tracks aren't allowed to run long enough to establish the mood. It's a tad dissapointing.

Some fantasic tracks.......2000-05-31

I bought this Erin Brockovich for the first track, which I simply adore, but the whole album is definately worth a listen. It has a perfect balance of bright tracks (Useless, On The Plume) and the more moving tracks such as Miss Wichita and the wonderful Technically A Woman. I am a great fan of Thomas Newman's and this soundtrack did not disappiont. In regard to the Sheryl Crow tracks I feel that Redemption Day is misplaced and I usually skip this track. Everyday Is A Winding Road, however, proves a fitting conclusion to this album. Most of the tracks are too short and the mechanical sounding percussion introductions take a little getting used to, but the good much outways the bad, as most of the tracks are delightful. Four stars.

Too short.......2000-04-05

This soundtrack is deceptive. What I remembered from the movie were the acoustic piano songs, and they are on here, but are only about a minute long, as is almost every track of this CD. 23 tracks, but only 35 minutes long... It does have the two Sheryl Crow songs, and those are good. The rest of the tracks are just too short to really enjoy.

Average customer rating:

Fresh
www.glasswerk.co.uk review
Hasn't left my CD player in 4 months
distilled!
What more can you say?

Distillation
Erin McKeown
Manufacturer: Signature Sounds
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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Grand
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Voices on the Verge: Live in Philadelphia

ASIN: B00004YBYQ
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Queen Of Quiet
Blackbirds
Didn't They?
La Petite Mort
The Little Cowboy
Daisy And Prudence
Fast As I Can
You Mustn't Kick It Around
How To Open My Heart In 4 Easy Steps
Dirt Gardener
Love In 2 Parts

Amazon.com

Erin McKeown's quirky, folksy music weds the intimacy of the coffeehouse circuit with the braininess of her daytime gig as an ethnomusicology student at Brown University. Accompanying herself on guitar, piano, banjo, and the odd sampler, this precocious Virginia native has crafted a winning album of original songs that range from the coy minimalism of "Queen of Quiet" to the genuine beauty of "How to Open My Heart in 4 Easy Steps." McKeown infuses her songs with a droll wit and a keen awareness of jazz, blues, and Tin Pan Alley traditions (how many 23-year-olds cover Rodgers and Hart's "You Mustn't Kick It Around"?). With its echoes of Gillian Welch, k.d. lang, Suzanne Vega, and the Handsome Family, Distillation is an eclectic collection of mostly upbeat tunes that play nicely while the barn is burning. --Bill Forman

Customer Reviews:

Fresh.......2007-03-25

She's different than the rest -- some old fashioned sounds with an entirely unique style -- entirely McKeown.

www.glasswerk.co.uk review.......2003-04-09

The topics of uncertainty and love has never been so subtly expressed as Erin McKeown has managed to do so, and in her debut proper 'Distillation' she explores swing, folk and Tin Pan Alley jazz with beguiling consequences. Acoustic guitar number 'Queen of Quiet' is the first and the shortest song, with McKeown's Deep South drawl adding to the uplifting mood set by this opener. 'Blackbirds' develops with a more of a jazz/blues style, delivered with a great deal of swagger, and she manages to do that to more or a lesser degree in every song.

It is with lyrics that the 24 year old excels in the most. Subjects of death among others are dealt with humour and sensitivity, "....we both found heaven right then, you just chose not to come back...." in 'La Petite Mort' a country number with bluegrass roots, and touches on the topics of cocaine and roses in the poignant 'The Little Cowboy' where McKeown reaches Joni Mitchell levels of diva dizziness. The slim production of the record successfully brings out McKeown's ability to use an instrument both rhythmically and sonically. As a result of this the songs sound resolute and bright, with the result that the quieter moments on this record are at times the memorable and striking moments, especially on the quieter times on 'Daisy and Prudence' and the yearning 'Love In 2 Parts' which shows her songwriting to be strong and her delivery impeccable. Swing is also an obvious influence, and provides the jollier moments with a cover of Rodger and Hart's 'You mustn't kick it around' and the quirky 'Didn't They?'. Each song is intricate despite its simplicity, overflowing with invention and sentiment, and is sure to win the hearts of those who cross her path. With 'Distillation' Erin McKeown has proved that less is indeed much, much more.

Ricky

Hasn't left my CD player in 4 months.......2003-02-26

Wow, what can I say, the lady is the complete package, an intersting voice, the most original lyrics and the coolest guitar playing I've heard since Richard Thompson. Hearing blackbird once propelled me to buy Distillation and have not been dissapointed. It has occupied my #1 slot in my 6 disc changer for 4 months, obsessed? I guess!

distilled!.......2003-02-19

She's the queen of quiet and soon the UK is going to see what the US has been keeping from them when her debut album "Distillation" gets a UK release in February. Already very popular and well known among the folk community of the states, this is the 24 year old Erin McKeown's first major release after her two successful 2,500 cassette only releases, a self-titled debut and "Monday Morning Cold" (1998) and. One of America's best-kept secrets and well worth the wait.

Mrs McKeown in her songs achieves the goal of both being distinctly modern, living up to her post-Bjork and Moby comparisons and at the same time old fashioned brining swinging 1920's jazz onto such songs as "Blackbirds". Erin grew up in Virginia and it was at Brown University that she found her unique gift for combining music old and new into her own hybrid style. Very difficult to pigeonhole in one genre toying with everything from modern pop, swing jazz and cabaret. She showcases here all her past influences and love of music and movies. While it's easy to get caught up with the comparisons it must also be said that this is unlike anything else before it, Erin is the first of her kind and it's easier to imagine that in the future people will compare artists to her, instead of visa versa which is a view shared by many writers like Dar Williams, "Don't let anybody tell you that Erin McKeown is the 'next' anyone. She's the very first Erin McKeown, and she's great."

Another extraordinary thing is the production, or lack of it. All of this record is self financed and instead of confining her sound to a soulless generic recording studio Erin and producer David Chalfant relocated to a farmhouse out in Massachusetts. All of the tracks were recorded here and very few have any processed electronic tinkering on them .The songs are refreshingly real sounding and gritty without the usual re-mastering that occurs. What you get is what happened and this, for use of a better word makes it sound real and fresh. The whole thing from the recording to promotion (self promoted from word of mouth and her website) is all very down to earth and grassroots.

Plucky guitar opener "Queen of Quiet" the shortest of the songs offered here, introduces unusual and enchanting vocal stylings not to dissimilar to US singers Kd Lang, but more energetic and uplifting. It also showcases her brilliant song writing with lyrics confessing her to be "The kind of lover that won't run for cover, what kind of lover am I?". Then "Blackbirds", a jazzy, blues style number is so catchy and infectious with it's danceable blues guitar sounds and lovable lyrics harking back in many ways to the children's rhyme with the birds of the same name. If you don't get the urge to dance to this, then check for a pulse. All the songs have smart lyrics from an artist who is offering us everything she is and while some of the best are partly collages of other influences as used on "Blackbirds" she really comes into herself with the more coherent songs like "The Little Cowboy" with the haunting images of roses and cocaine. While we've had ladies giving us distinct and original vocals before, Alanis Morrisette or Ani Difranco for instance, it's the combination her of striking singing and skilful playing of whatever instrument she picks up be it a banjo or a guitar. Smart and very cool.

To the slow emotional "How to open my heart in 4 easy steps". Erin flexing her songwritting muscles again and asking kindly to "Untie these strings, from around my heart" and sadly confessing herself as "undone". That description is appropriate for this and many songs that are so open and overflowing with ideas and emotion. The perfect almost-a-love songs to complete the amazingly eclectic collection of songs.

So cheerful and instantly likable, so diverse that everyone will find something here to there taste. Fans of eclectic musicians like Badly Drawn Boy and the increasingly famous Polyphonic Spree will embrace this album openly. Buy this and then buy her previous albums on re-release soon.

What more can you say?.......2002-04-30

For those of you who feel you've out grown Ani Difranco because you don't like the way she's heading, give this lil gal a try. It's not all political riot grrl angst here. This 5 foot spit fire delivers prose like a emerson on benzedrine. Her Alternate tunings on her guitar change from song to song and give each one a distinctive feel that connects with each word that pours from her mouth. Her Songs move from theme to theme and genre to genre, never lulling in expectation. "Queen of Quiet" breaks it down in an almost contradictory spoken word speech. I've never heard a hop-along country song like "little cowboy" mosey along as if Roy Rogers and Jack kerouac collaborated On The "dusty" Road. Watch this one. She's gonna have more tricks up her sleeve.

Average customer rating:

to the stars....
Just good tunz.
High Concept
"it's beautiful, i guess"
Good Enough

We Will Become Like Birds
Erin McKeown
Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Grand
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ASIN: B0009NCPFG
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

Aspera
Air
Life On the Moon
To The Stars
Beautiful (I Guess)
Float
We Are More
White City
The Golden Dream (featuring Juana Molina)
Bells and Bombs
Delicate December (featuring Peter Mulvey)
You Were Right About Everything

Amazon.com

After the higher polish production values of Grand in 2003, Erin McKeown took to the road with an edgier format. Playing electric guitar, she was usually accompanied by just a drummer. The songs and approach for this album started to take shape during that time. On her fourth album, she moves with ease from reveries about the natural forces all around her to carefully rendered paeans to struggle and perseverance. Tucker Martine's production embraces everything from earthy atmospherics ("The Golden Dream") to irresistible pop hooks ("White City") and from punch-in-the-gut rockers ("Bells and Bombs") to the prayer-like and propulsive ("Aspera"). The settings vary, but the inviting and confident character of McKeown's songs and voice make for a bracing whole. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

to the stars...........2005-11-12

Erin Mckeown's references to Judy Garland are a little more understated in this album than the last (grand), yet they are still there if you listen close! It also took me a little longer to get into this one than the last but, overall, I think I like it even more. The lyrics, for the most part, seem more introspective and sanguine, and the melodies are as wonderful as ever! The last track 'You were right about everything' is my favorite.

Just good tunz........2005-09-21

great album with mix of well-written tunz. Could listen to White City on repeat for my whole commute. Lots of fun and a unique voice.

High Concept.......2005-09-12

Erin McKeown's remarkable "We Will Become Like Birds" is a concept album, of sorts. And the concept is flight.

Erin's vibrato-free alto is as superb as it was with the jazzier "Grand" (this one's more pop), and her intelligent lyrics would have won approval from the likes of Cole Porter and Lorenz Hart.

Highlights are the anthemic "Aspera," with its Latin motto, the poppy "To the Stars," the dramatic "White City," and the absolutely to die for "Delicate December."

A must have.

"it's beautiful, i guess".......2005-08-31

I recieved this for my birthday today, and so far i'm having a great time with it! Very upbeat album. Made a great soundtrack, as i ran around the city today. "White city" and "Bells and Bombs" have a great "strut" to them.
I've known of Erin for a long time, and distilation was a great album.... but i'm not dissapointed by this one at all. It still has a good vibe that grows with you every listen.
I could kick myself for not seeing her here in Seattle last week. Her "stylings" are even more impressive live.

Good Enough.......2005-08-31

I've been a fan of Erin McKeown's since I first heard "Distillation" a few years back. I loved her funky, upbeat, unique sound and the great lyrics. I picked up "Monday Morning Cold" and loved it as well. "Grand" didn't disappoint either, though I found fewer songs I just loved. And that's how I feel about "We Will Become Like Birds." There's still songs I love, but they're fewer & farther between.

Overall the album is less acoustic and more polished sounding than her previous albums. It flows well, which makes it good for background listening. The lyrics are still great, of course, and include some great comments on emotions and relationships.

But it didn't feel like the simple joyful expression of music I enjoyed in the previous albums. I felt like I didn't hear as much of Erin McKeown's unique voice -- it's too covered by the instruments for my tastes.

I'd still recommend the album for the songs I consider real jewels. "To the Stars" and "We Are More" are great songs that remind me of the sound I loved from the older albums. "Bells and Bombs" and "You Were Right About Everything" are both beautifully-written and performed songs. And the more I listen to the others, the more they grow on me.

So it's not "Distillation" or "Monday Morning Cold." But it's still Erin McKeown. And that's good enough for me...

Average customer rating:

Erin is an outstanding performer!
EASILY 5 STARS
Fabulous, absolutely fabulous

Wide Wide World
Erin O'Donnell
Manufacturer: Inpop
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Christian Rock | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

No Place So Far
Christmas Time Is Here
Scratching the Surface: Erin O'Donnell
Scrapbook of Sorts
No Place So Far

ASIN: B0000DD57R
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

Wide Wide World
And So I Am
Thank You (Get I Right)
To Be Loved
Overcome
I Love How You Love Me
You Were The One
You Knew
Golden
This Is My Prayer
You Give

Customer Reviews:

Erin is an outstanding performer!.......2004-11-14

I was able to see Erin live at the MOPS convention this past September 2004! She was the highlight of the convention for me!
She and her husband write most of the songs she sings, which gives the songs more passion and depth. Her vocals are incredible and her songs are full of praise and worship for the LORD! She uplifts me!My daughters love singing her songs too. If you love Ginny Owens or Sara Groves you will fall in love with Erin O'Donnell! You won't be disappointed!

EASILY 5 STARS.......2003-12-24

I also saw Erin in concert but Dec 2003 with David Phelps and i was hoping she would stay out longer! I'm a big music person and she has definite talent as a singer overall. I suggest this CD to everyone. The music and lyrics just envelope you from when you first play it. Worth EVERY penny you spend on it!

Fabulous, absolutely fabulous.......2003-11-23

I saw Erin in concert in August, just before this album was released. Hearing the music there got me really excited about this album, and I have not been disappointed. If you like Sara Groves or Nichole Nordeman, you'll like Erin. Her lyrics are fabulous and she's so obviously worshipping God when she sings (also when she performs) that it's very inspiring. I can't recommend this album enough.

Average customer rating:

Great FIRST ALBUM from Erin O'Donnell
Sheer brilliance
A truly inspirational CD
Enjoyed the lyrical content and up tempo musical style.

Scrapbook of Sorts
Erin O'Donnell
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Christian Rock | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Scratching the Surface: Erin O'Donnell
Wide Wide World
No Place So Far
Christmas Time Is Here

ASIN: B000002NBW
Release Date: 1996-11-26

Tracks:

Be Still And Know
No Better Place
I Will Trust In You
Didn't Even Know
Even In My Youth
From Me To You
Dear Francis
Let's Talk About It
Things I Cannot Say
The Eternal Spring
My Jesus Face

Customer Reviews:

Great FIRST ALBUM from Erin O'Donnell.......1999-07-15

This is great first album for Erin O'Donnell. She is a fresh voice in the Contemporary Christian music arena. Her music has a great message and is inpirational. Her second album, Scratching the Surface is just as good as Scrapbook of Sorts. I highly recommend this Christian artist.

Sheer brilliance.......1999-06-16

Erin is arguably the freshest voice in contemporary Christian music today. The songwriting is innovative and well thought out and the performances are spectacular. If you're tired of the majority of fairly bland and interchangable Christian artists, you should give Erin a try.

A truly inspirational CD.......1999-04-19

Erin O'Donnell has a beautiful voice & the lyrics are so powerful. This is my 1st Christian CD, & I am now hooked on Christian Contemporary! If you're looking for a great way to bring Christ into your daily life, this is it.

Enjoyed the lyrical content and up tempo musical style........1999-02-06

I have her first album "Scatching the Surface". This album has a similar style and very good lyrical content. The music is easy to listen to and seems to flow with the words. The Christian message is clear and very uplifting. Thank you Erin O'Donnell.

Average customer rating:

A good break from her own written music
FANTASTIC!!!!

Sing You Sinners
Erin McKeown
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

We Will Become Like Birds
City Garden
Grand
Pretty Little Head
Alright, Still

ASIN: B000HOL6EI
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Tracks:

Get Happy
Paper Moon
Coucou
Melody
They Say It's Spring
I Was a Little Too Lonely (You Were a Little Too Late)
Sing You Sinners
Rhode Island Is Famous for You
Something's Gotta Give
Just One of Those Things
If You a Viper
Thanks for the Boogie Ride
Don't Worry 'Bout Me

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A good break from her own written music.......2007-01-26

I love Ms. Mckeown's music. I do have to say that I like the songs she writes better than the songs she covers. Although this album is fabulous, (if you like a more retro selection of songs) I prefer her original songs. In my opinion her best album is "we will become like birds" followed closely by "Grand". As my tastes generally lean toward the more upbeat songs, I have to recommend "Paper Moon" and "Melody" on this album, though the acoustic work in "If You a Viper" makes me smile contentedly and forget what I was doing.

FANTASTIC!!!!.......2006-11-10

Erin McKeown does it again, this time wow'ing us with a collection of old old old covers, from Paper Moon to Get Happy, to Rhode Island Is Famous For You, and every single one has this fantastic bounce and shuffle, you just cannot help but smile and bounce and shuffle along with it!! Erin's trademark voice just shines on these old tunes. BUY THIS ALBUM. you won't regret it. the arrangements are great, too, with some smoking brass solos and chilly wurlitzer and organ sounds drifting throughout.

Erin McKeown just seems to get better and better each time.

Average customer rating:

Over flowing with Talent!
Brave young artist
erin mckeown

Monday Morning Cold
Erin McKeown
Manufacturer: Tvp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Folk Rock | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Singer Songwriters | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Distillation
Grand
We Will Become Like Birds
Sing You Sinners
Voices on the Verge: Live in Philadelphia

ASIN: B00004GJVE
Release Date: 2001-08-02

Tracks:

Fast As I Can
Lullaby in Three/Four
My Hips
Monday Morning Cold
Easy Baby
Softly Moses
Glass
Fast As I Can
How to Open My Heart in 4 Easy Steps
Something Comes
You Don't Know

Customer Reviews:

Over flowing with Talent!.......2002-01-16

This little lady is amazing! I first saw her open for Dar Williams and I was blown away! I bought her cd, Distillation, that night. Shortly there after I attained this album. I must say that I liked Distillation better, but this cd was not a let down. You can hear her on stage presence.
She is phenomenal performer, with an incredible artistic range for a folk singer. She combines blues, funk and folk with smart, witty lyrics.
I've had the pleasure of speaking briefly with her, as have one of my friends, and we both agree she is wonderful. During the Dar show she was next to me in the crowd and sat through the show. In my personal experience, I usually don't see performers sitting in the crowd through other performers. She is, all in all, a refreshing energetic addition to the folk scene.

Brave young artist.......2000-08-24

I saw Erin at a coffee shop in San Luis Obispo, California, far away from what I believe is her native East Coast. She's quite a package. Standing roughly five feet tall, arms wrapped around her guitar, she is a perfect metaphor for her music: a small, simple package and delivery, but brimming with explosive zest and talent.

Musically: trimmed down acoutic folk with jazzy/bluesy riffs and a propensity towards clever, well-read, yet street-smart lyrics.

Erin is quite an engaging live performer; when I saw her, she had the whole crowd singing along (or performing hand gestures) with her for several songs. This album tries to capture some of that infective playing that she shows live and, to some extent, it does capture it but overall the album feels disjointed and thrown together. A good effort nevertheless.

erin mckeown.......2000-01-24

Amazing, amazing musician- Erin has lyrics, music, and charm like no one else! Buy it- you won't regret it.

Music Review: