The Bramble & the Rose

The Bramble & the Rose

Track Listings

1. Geronimo's Cadillac

2. Bramble and the Rose

3. Lonesome Road

4. Stages of My Life

5. Oh Death

6. Hit the Road Jack

7. Copperfields

8. Mama Lou

9. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby

10. Strawberry Roan

11. Canaan's Land

12. Rank Stranger

Tracks:

Trouble Over Me
Virginia, No One Can Warn You
Neighborhood
Bird of Freedom
Bramble Rose
I Know Him Too
Sunday
Supposed To Make You Happy
Diamond Shoes
Are You Still In Love With Me
When I Cross Over

Amazon.com

Imagine the Rolling Stones recording a country album in Muscle Shoals with Dusty Springfield singing lead. Now imagine a young artist from North Carolina whose ambition not only measures itself against such classic comparisons, but shows the promise to transcend them. Tift Merritt's major-label debut finds such promise fulfilled on "Sunday," the six-minute centerpiece in which the sweet sensuality of her upper register floats over an organ bedrock and vocal chorus that are pure Southern church. Even when other cuts sound like they could have been preserved in a '70s time capsule--the generic country-rock of "Diamond Shoes" and the very Stonesy "Neighborhood"--her vocals have a seductive intimacy that freshens the familiar. The lead guitar of producer Ethan Johns and the keyboards of Benmont Tench (on loan from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers) augment Merritt's band on arrangements that give the material plenty of room to breathe. As a writer, Merritt has some room to grow, but as a singer, she already sounds like one of the greats. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

interesting.......2007-03-21

saw her live performance better than album, still a good album you must listen to lyrics to appreciate the performance

good songs, bad production.......2005-12-10

Tift's voice is undeniable lovely, but the production of this cd hinders the beauty of these songs from really coming to life. the acoustic guitar is buried so deeply in the mix that it resembles a static-y strum in the background. and it's a shame, because tracks like "I Know Him Too", "Virginia, No One Can Warn You" and the achingly gorgeous title track are all excellent songs that could have been so much more appealing to the ear, given a better, richer production job. some of the songs on this cd fall too close to Sheryl Crow territory for me to personally enjoy, but the traditional blue-eyed country sound of most of these selections are nice.

Blew me away!.......2004-05-14

I discovered this CD back in 2002 and I haven't stopped listening to it. I feel sorry for her in a way, this is such a benchmark debut album, that it will be hard to follow up. I'm certain she can make another great album like this one though! Tift Merritt's sound is a cross between Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Dusty Springfield, as another viewer pointed out, and the songs here really work. It's an enjoyable listen start to finish, and I find myself loving more with each listen. Merritt's lyrical perspective speaks of the often-unfortunate twists and turns of fate, but without bitterness or spite, and she can jump from the wistful sway of "Virginia, No One Can Warn You" to the R&B-influenced bite of "Neighborhood" and back to the classic weeper style of the title cut without missing a step or ever sounding less than committed or convincing. Highlights include "I Know Him Too", "Diamond Shoes", "When I Cross Over", "Sunday" and "Trouble Over Me", though there is not one weak track on this fine album.

The Best Debute.......2004-04-02

Tift Merritt's Bramble Rose is the most complex female country music album since Trish Yearwood's Real Live Woman. This is not a teenaged girl falling in and out of crushes like so many so-called strong women of the day. This is a woman who happens across men, considers the possibility of a relationship with them, then feels her way through the rest of life. "You're not my boyfriend/I don't want a boyfriend" she asserts in the first line of "Trouble Over Me," "I don't want you for life/but don't we get along fine." The rest of her album explores life and love in much this same way.

This is a real woman, a complex woman, one with a life and friends as well as a man. She lays it out to a male friend/possible love interest in "Neighborhood," "Honey you don't look good/baby you can run 'round with just anybody in the neighborhood." However, she advises her friend to go after love in Diamond shoes "No one can win a heart like yours/but damned if he ain't tryin'." Perhaps the strongest cut on the album is "Sunday" a tribute to the day of lounging in bed and visiting your mother. "Supposed to Make You Happy" is a heart wrenching look at relationship failure. In the middle of songs like "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" Merritt offers "Bird of Freedom," which explores rather than asserts patriotism. However, it is perhaps in the title track when she gives all of us, to borrow a Susan Werner phrase, last of the good straight girls, a new song about, "a real good woman, nobody knows."

Tift Merritt has earned a number of comparisons to Emmilou Harris. Part of it is she has a similar whispy, etheral country/folk voice. Another part of it is her ability to mix genres and still come out sounding distinctly country. However, comparing her to Emmilou Harris is like comparing Allison Moorer to Tammy Wynette. Both may bring to mind their heriones of old, but each has a sound that will always be their own.

Benchmark Debut.......2004-03-16

Probably the coolest thing about Tift Merritt's debut album is that she doesn't allow you to develop staid, static expectations about her. You'll be grooving along with "Virginia, No One Can Warn You," feeling mellow enjoying that beautiful soprano; then suddenly she'll swing into "Neighborhood," with its guitar and vocals to blister paint, and you're out of your chair dancing before you can even stop yourself.

There's no mistaking this for anything but a debut album. Good as it is, there's a certain unsteadiness about it. Whenever Merritt moves away from her comfort zone in country music's heyday, she still seems to be feeling her way around, as though she's in this area for the first time. But when she's in her metier, wow, this is music you'll continue hearing in your dreams.

Tift Merritt would have been in the mainstream of country music not so long ago, when mainstream country was still good. It's easy to imagine songs like "Sunday" being recorded by Loretta Lynn. "Diamond Shoes" could be a cover of Jessi Colter for its brass and its musicality. Now that mainstream country has become so slick and bland, Merritt has been hung with the "alt" label and her albums don't move half the copy they deserve. Fans of true country should be offended.

Tracks:

Geronimo's Cadillac
The Bramble And The Rose
Lonesome Road
Stages Of My Life
Oh Death
Hit The Road, Jack
Copperfields
Mama Lou
I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby
Strawberry Roan
Canaan's Land
Rank Stranger

Customer Reviews:

VERY GOOD ALBUM!.......2005-03-23

These two artists sound very good together. Good song selection, and instrumentation. Contains a definitive version of "Geronimo's Cadillac". A GOOD BUY!

Excellent stuff!.......2000-05-31

I've loved Mary McCaslin's solo stuff for several years now, and I was excited to hear this was being re-released this year. I was not disappointed. In fact I was very, very pleased. It was actually much better than I expected. With the possible exception of 'Hit The Road Jack", every other cut on this disc is a keeper. Some of them are just flat out fantastic, especially the covers of the old country standards "Lonesome Road" and "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby". I'd say this disc is a "must have" for fans of solid country folk music. It's one of my favourite purchases of the past year.

After all these years it's still great!.......2000-03-18

Jim Ringer and Mary McCaslin sang duo's at their live concerts and this album reflects that.

If you like slightly country based folk, you'll love this.

I used to hire them to sing in Hartford, Connecticut at the Sounding Board back in the late 70's. They always drew large crowds. For some reason I think personal problems overwhelmed them and they slowly lost popularity. By 1990 they had disappeared from the folk circuit.

This album is highly produced with a lot of different backing instruments including drums.

It's a very lively album for the most part. Even though the words might be sad ones, most of the tunes are lively and the beat also is.

I can't compare this duo to anyone else. It was a favorite of mine when first released in 1980 on vinyl. Now, thankfully, Rounder has re-released it on c.d.

Tracks:

Blue Skies And Teardrops
Coat Of Many Colors
The Engineers Don't Wave From The Trains Anymore
Why Tell Me Why
Love Grown Cold
The Bramble And The rose
I'll Pretend It's Raining
Hey Porter
New Patches
My Younger Days
Red Line To Shady Grove
Heartstrings

Customer Reviews:

One of the finest bluegrass bands around.......2002-09-23

Lynn Morris and her band have been overshadowed in recent years by others, particularly Alison Krauss, but Lynn and Marshall are brilliant singers and all the band are talented musicians.

On this album, Lynn (lead singer on most tracks) plays clawhammer banjo on The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore (a nostalgic Tom T Hall song remembering steam trains and how much more exciting they were than diesels) - on other tracks she plays rhythm guitar.

David McLaughlin plays lead guitar on Hey Porter (the old Johnny Cash song - they love their trains!) - on other tracks he plays mandolin. Tom Adams plays banjo. Stuart Duncan (not a member of the band, but a guest on this album) plays fiddle.

Marshall Wilborn sings lead on the two train songs and two songs he wrote himself, My younger days and Heartstrings. He is also the band's bass player.

Lynn does a magnificent cover of Coat of many colors. Of course, nobody could ever quite match Dolly's version of this song, which is about a true life experience, but Lynn's version is as good as any other I've heard, including Emmylou's.

There are many other excellent songs here, including Love grown cold, a song written by Lynn, plus a fine instrumental written by Tom, Red line to Shady Grove.

Tracks:

Polly On The Shore
The Lover's Ghost
Fair Annie
Dives And Lazarus
The Four Angels
Betsy The Serving Maid
The Bramble Briar
Banks Of Sweet Primroses
Rounding The Horn
The Princess Royal
Sammy's Bar
Leaves Of Life
Air For Maurice Ogg

Album Description

Long recognized as a true virtuoso of the acoustic guitar, and named by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as one of the 15 artists of the decade. This release marks Martin's return to Topic Records after 15 years.

Customer Reviews:

Superb Music and Story Telling.......2005-08-25

As a fan of Martin's music for many years, I didn't know what to expect when I first purchased this album. At the time I purchased this album, I had only really paid close attention to his album Golden Vanity (now long out of print), and after one listening to this album I was hooked. Martin's guitar playing speaks for itself, and the stories contained within the songs are superb. The music contained on this album is deeply rooted in traditional music and will keep the listener begging for more. Do yourself and favor and buy this album.

Superb collection of English songs - great acoustic guitar!.......2001-08-12

Anyone who appreciates great guitar playing, anyone who has ever enjoyed any traditional music - buy this CD!! The quality of singing, playing and recording are all superb. And he has the legendary Martin Carthy guesting on a couple of tracks. Carthy does not sing on this album, but his influence (both guitar style and vocal phrasing) are very evident on the title track. Most tracks are traditional songs (three are instrumentals). There is also a wonderful version of Cyril Tawney's "Sammy's Bar", which I think was written in the 1950's, when Tawney was serving in Malta. Difficult to pick out favourite tracks, but if pushed it would be Sammy's Bar and the two nautical songs - Polly on the Shore and Rounding the Horn.

Tracks:

Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 1. I Was The Slightest..
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 2. Through Lane It Lay...
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 3. It Troubled Me As...
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 4. The Childs Faith Is New
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 5. Softened My Time's...
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 6. Papa Above!
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 7. We Talked As Girls Do
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 8. They Shut Me Up In...
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 9. I Cried At Pity--Not At
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 10. Let Us Play Yesterday
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 11. A Loss Of Something...
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 12. Good Morning...
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 13. Up Life's Hill With...
Cycle 1, Cholde Emilie, 14 Songs About Memories & Fantasies Of Childhood: 14. I'm Ceded--I've...
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 1. I Was A Phoebe--Nothing More
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 2. The Bird Her Punctual Music Brings
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 3. The Earth Has Many Keys
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 4. The Bobolink Is Gone
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 5. A Train Went Through A Burial Gate
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 6. I Cannot Dance Upon My Toes
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 7. Upon His Saddle Sprung A Bird
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 8. Better-Than Music!--For I--Who...
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 9. Bind Me--I Still Can Sing
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 10. Within My Garden, Rides A Bird
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 11. Heart, Not So Heavy As Mine
Cycle 2, The Celestial Thrush, 12 Songs About Music & Birds: 12. I Shall Keep Singing
Cycle 6, The White Diadem, 7 Songs About Poets & Poetry: 1. I Reckon--When I Count At All
Cycle 6, The White Diadem, 7 Songs About Poets & Poetry: 2. I Dwell In Possibility
Cycle 6, The White Diadem, 7 Songs About Poets & Poetry: 3. The Martyr Poets--Did Not Tell
Cycle 6, The White Diadem, 7 Songs About Poets & Poetry: 4. The Poets Light But Lamps
Cycle 6, The White Diadem, 7 Songs About Poets & Poetry: 5. I Would Not Paint--A Picture
Cycle 6, The White Diadem, 7 Songs About Poets & Poetry: 6. To Pile Like Thunder To Its Close
Cycle 6, The White Diadem, 7 Songs About Poets & Poetry: 7. Me--Come! My Dazzled Face

Album Description

Leo Smit has an impressive pedigree as an American composer and musician. A virtuoso pianist, he has worked closely with such legends as Stravinsky, Balanchine, Copland and Stokowski. He has set more that 75 of Emily Dickinson's poems to music, grouping the works into cycles about related subject matter. The disc contains the world premiere recordings of three of those cycles- Childe Emilie- Memories and Fantasies of Childhood, The Celestrial Thrush- Songs of Music and Bird, and The White Diadem- Songs About Poets and Poetry. Smit's songs display great sensitivity to Dickinson's very personal world, and reflect the poet's emotional range by adopting an extremely colorful palette. The songs frequently veer from the simple and tonal to more rhythmically complex and chromatic settings, always alert to word and mood.

Average customer rating:

Tambourine/Bramble Rose
Tift Merritt
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000F3AJ8K
Release Date: 2006-04-10

Tracks:

Stray Paper
Wait It Out
Good Hearted Man
Ain't Looking Closely
Still Pretending
Write My Ticket
Your Love Made A U Turn
Plainest Thing
Late Night Pilgrim
I Am Your Tambourine
Laid A Highway
Shadow In The Way

Tracks:

Trouble Over Me
Virginia, No One Can Warn You
Neighborhood
Bird Of Freedom
Bramble Rose
I Know Him Too
Sunday
Supposed To Make You Happy
Diamond Shoes
Are You Still In Love With Me?
When I Cross Over

Les Silences du Colonel Bramble: Read by Andre Maurois

Average customer rating:

Les Silences du Colonel Bramble: Read by Andre Maurois
Andre Maurois
Manufacturer: Fremeaux & Assoc. Fr
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Comedy & Spoken Word | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: 2844680925
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Average customer rating:

A solid band
Where's the talent?
Got more?
Incredible music made for the love of it.
Livingston Bramble Rocks !!!

God Bless America
Livingston Bramble
Manufacturer: The Orchard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004Z3WL
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

One Idea
Eight Legs
Fall To Earth
God Bless America
One Idea (Raw Demo 2000)

Customer Reviews:

A solid band.......2002-03-13

I found a lot of cool sounds on this CD. I read the other reviews and decided to write one myself after someone trashed this band. I think that review was kind of meaan, because Livingston Bramble is talented, but if the reviewer didn't like the songs, well, ok. Each track has it's own groove, and I think this group has a very unique sound. No, they are not the Creed or Tool or the greatest band in the hemisphere. But hey are a good band in my opinion. I plan on buying their new CD, too, which I guess is the best compliment I can give. I saw them live last weekend and they were excellent compared to a lot of the bands I have seen. I agree that the CD is not perfect but this is a good starting point for any new band. Four stars outta 5.

Where's the talent?.......2002-01-15

Being an avid lover of music in general, I took to this CD as I take to those in my own collection. I tried to be objective, but I couldn't find anything I liked about it. It's the same hooks I used to hear in classic rock bands and even Jane's Addiction. It just sounds like this band is trying to get signed. I don't understand the lead vocalist's attempts at possibly screaming, this is music that should be sung over. What is with every song having the word 'man' or 'cat' in it as well? It gets boring and annoyingly repetitive. Remember the '80s? I'd rather listen to a nu-metal band. 'Fall To Earth' should have been left in the 80s as well, kids these days don't want to hear ballads.

And 'God Bless America'? I realize it was written in 2000, but I can see how it can profit the band after the September 11th acts. Shameful.

Got more?.......2001-02-04

The cd is a good starting point for a new band. The music will speak for itself. This reminds me of the Kill em all, ep in that when i first heard that ep in the eighties, I wanted to hear more from metallica. I would not say this is a metallica type band. However, I am saying the feeling of; "is there more of this around?" is present after listening to the cd GBA. Here's a cd that you can sample at a great price! The band live is a great time. See you Later cats

Incredible music made for the love of it........2000-11-04

Livingston Bramble's God Bless America CD is exceptional! The songs are well written with good meanings to live by. The high-energy music brings you into the songs. Who would think a bunch of guys from a small town could make such amazing music? It shows that these guys make music for the love it and nothing else. If you've ever seen them live it shows how much they love it. They are focused, bringing the crowd into the music. Every song on this album is brilliant. I have to say my favorite song is "One Idea." It has an incredible energy. The lyrics discuss living life for you. It talks about how people feel they are just here on this earth, but we all have a purpose in life. All we have to do is find it. One of my friend's favorite songs is "Eight Legs." He pointed out the symbolisms that come up in the song. When situations arise stand up and take them. The lyric "I got your back if you got mine" points out a loyalty quality. Each song has its own catchy meaning. If you can ever catch a show I highly recommend it!

Livingston Bramble Rocks !!!.......2000-11-03

Well where can I start? Livingston Bramble has great music great lyrics. Buy this CD now and see for yourself!

Music Review: