Bright Morning Stars

by The Wailin' Jennys

Overview

Since their 2001 inception in a Winnipeg guitar shop, the Wailin' Jennys have been quietly and consistently crafting some of North America's best modern roots music. Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody, and Heather Masse, the latter of whom took over for Annabelle Chvostek in 2007, sing like siblings and play like seasoned veterans, resulting in a seamless, understated sound that feels both perennial and distinctly Canadian. Lonesome and surprisingly comforting, the group's fourth studio album, Bright Morning Stars, offers up 13 meditations on love, life, and loss that fit right in with the trio's penchant for melding traditional folk songs and sea shanties with contemporary themes. It's a quiet but powerful collection of snowbound balladry that may be too subtle and unassuming for 21st century attention spans, which is a large part of its charm. Comparisons to Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch are apt, but the Jennys' ability to harmonize like the family acts of old sets them apart from many of their contemporaries. Part Watersons and part Fleetwood Mac, songs like the pop-driven "Swing Low Sail High," the jazzy "Mona Louise," the timeless sounding "Bird Song," and the sparse, largely a cappella title cut, feel grounded and effortless, despite their competing genres. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/08/2011
Label:	Red House Records
UPC:	0033651023425
Rank:	29323

Tracks

1. Swing Low Sail High
2. All the Stars
3. Bird Song
4. Away But Never Gone
5. Storm Comin'
6. Mona Louise
7. Bright Morning Stars
8. Across the Sea
9. Asleep at Last
10. What Has Been Done
11. Cherry Blossom Love
12. You Are Here
13. Last Goodbye

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Wailin' Jennys   Primary Artist
Tone Valcic   Drums
David Travers-Smith   Flugelhorn,Trumpet,Keyboards
Nicky Mehta   Vocals,Ukulele,Guitar (Acoustic)
Christian Dugas   Drums,Percussion
Richard Moody   Viola
Kevin Breit   Mandolin,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Colin Cripps   Dobro,Guitar (Electric)
Jeremy Penner   Fiddle
Ruth Moody   Banjo,Vocals,Accordion,Guitar (Acoustic)
Joe Phillips   Bass (Upright),Bass (Acoustic)
Jean Martin   Drums
Paul Mathew   Cello,Bass (Acoustic),Bass (Electric)
Justin Haynes   Ukulele,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Bill Dillon   Mandolin,Bass (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Rob Gusevs   Organ
Heather Masse   Vocals

Technical Credits

David Travers-Smith   Mastering,Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Mark Howard   Engineer,Producer
Grant Johnson   Engineer
Nicky Mehta   Composer
Art Turner   Photography
The Wailin' Jennys   Arranger
Jeremy Penner   Engineer
Ruth Moody   Composer
Ron Sawchuk   Design,Cover Art
Traditional   Composer
Norman Dugas   Engineer
Heather Masse   Composer
Herschel Freeman   Booking
Julien Paquin   Booking