THE SKINNY: Folk-rock for the traveler and the thinker alike
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/anniecrane
Some of us have been fortunate enough to hear stories about how our parents and grandparents came to this country, and pending on the depth of that particular knowledge that was bestowed, it often provided you with a rich understanding of where you have come from, where you have been, and where you’re heading.
It doesn’t take much for Annie Crane to convey this deep sense of history as well as her anticipation of the future in her debut album Through the Farmlands & the Cities. Few artists have the ability to take you along with them; to make you feel as if you’re a spectator of the travels and defining moments. Crane invites you to watch, hiding nothing from the listener, and all the while showing her strong ties to her family, life and the Mid-Atlantic.
Parts of the album sound as if they were written while sitting on hotel beds, or while sitting in the passenger seat during a multiple-hour drive. Throughout the album, you can’t help but feel that you are on a road trip through various cities and destinations of the Northeast and beyond. In no time, you hear references to Seneca Falls, New York City, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Delaware, the Mississippi river, Chicago, Canada, Maine and Georgia. And this is all within the first three tracks.
Crane’s classical vocal training provides a strong anchor, as her voice is never overshadowed by the accompanying instruments. But even though her rich, powerful voice is the main conveyor of the message, she harnesses only what she needs for each song, instead of exhibiting overwhelming vocal power. Crane has the ability to add the delicate nuances that a song such as “Our Families” demands. The softness of her voice adds a contemplative quality to the song and it allows you to vividly conjure the images that she effortlessly paints with her descriptive lyrics.
But voice isn’t the only strength of Crane’s music. Guitar, lap steel, violin and harmonica all add proper grace to her sound. All of the instruments are blended perfectly and they have the ability to take you to a different region in a moment’s notice. At times you might feel as if you’re gliding up the New York State Thruway and others might take you down I-85 en route to Atlanta. It is this convergence of regional sounds that gives Crane’s music its eclectic quality.
Crane’s sound is a seamless merger of both folk and country, but her voice and style also recall certain elements of Celtic and Scottish music. She breezes through verses with busy vocal notes, but she has a tendency to hold her last note out longer and add just enough vibrato at the end to give the phrases entrancing depth, as is often heard in Irish and Scottish ballads. “Empire State” provides a perfect example, as she makes references to wind whipping by high in the sky and for a moment you might be waiting for a reference to Belfast or Caledonia, before remembering that you’re listening to an American artist from upstate New York.
Crane has assembled a wonderful, lively documentation of her experiences and she makes it easy and enjoyable for you to sing along with her. Her powerful, yet delicate voice takes you from place to place and moment to moment. It might even encourage you to have a few more moments of your own. What I do know is this: If I ever make my dream journey from Cork to Edinburgh, this album will certainly provide part of the soundtrack.
FAVORITE TRACK: "Our Families"
FOR FANS OF: Joni Mitchell, Neko Case, Patrick Street, Joan Baez
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/anniecrane
Some of us have been fortunate enough to hear stories about how our parents and grandparents came to this country, and pending on the depth of that particular knowledge that was bestowed, it often provided you with a rich understanding of where you have come from, where you have been, and where you’re heading.It doesn’t take much for Annie Crane to convey this deep sense of history as well as her anticipation of the future in her debut album Through the Farmlands & the Cities. Few artists have the ability to take you along with them; to make you feel as if you’re a spectator of the travels and defining moments. Crane invites you to watch, hiding nothing from the listener, and all the while showing her strong ties to her family, life and the Mid-Atlantic.
Parts of the album sound as if they were written while sitting on hotel beds, or while sitting in the passenger seat during a multiple-hour drive. Throughout the album, you can’t help but feel that you are on a road trip through various cities and destinations of the Northeast and beyond. In no time, you hear references to Seneca Falls, New York City, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Delaware, the Mississippi river, Chicago, Canada, Maine and Georgia. And this is all within the first three tracks.
Crane’s classical vocal training provides a strong anchor, as her voice is never overshadowed by the accompanying instruments. But even though her rich, powerful voice is the main conveyor of the message, she harnesses only what she needs for each song, instead of exhibiting overwhelming vocal power. Crane has the ability to add the delicate nuances that a song such as “Our Families” demands. The softness of her voice adds a contemplative quality to the song and it allows you to vividly conjure the images that she effortlessly paints with her descriptive lyrics.
But voice isn’t the only strength of Crane’s music. Guitar, lap steel, violin and harmonica all add proper grace to her sound. All of the instruments are blended perfectly and they have the ability to take you to a different region in a moment’s notice. At times you might feel as if you’re gliding up the New York State Thruway and others might take you down I-85 en route to Atlanta. It is this convergence of regional sounds that gives Crane’s music its eclectic quality.
Crane’s sound is a seamless merger of both folk and country, but her voice and style also recall certain elements of Celtic and Scottish music. She breezes through verses with busy vocal notes, but she has a tendency to hold her last note out longer and add just enough vibrato at the end to give the phrases entrancing depth, as is often heard in Irish and Scottish ballads. “Empire State” provides a perfect example, as she makes references to wind whipping by high in the sky and for a moment you might be waiting for a reference to Belfast or Caledonia, before remembering that you’re listening to an American artist from upstate New York.
Crane has assembled a wonderful, lively documentation of her experiences and she makes it easy and enjoyable for you to sing along with her. Her powerful, yet delicate voice takes you from place to place and moment to moment. It might even encourage you to have a few more moments of your own. What I do know is this: If I ever make my dream journey from Cork to Edinburgh, this album will certainly provide part of the soundtrack.
FAVORITE TRACK: "Our Families"
FOR FANS OF: Joni Mitchell, Neko Case, Patrick Street, Joan Baez
1 of you said...
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Monday, July 06, 2009
so glad Seneca Falls was referenced.
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