Wailin Jennys Firecracker CD

 Great group and sound
My daughter turned me on to the Jennys, and this is my third album of theirs. She discovered them through Garrison Keillor's show. I have found their sound to be fresh and at the same time nostalgic. A great listen.
Submitted by Jim (Marion, OH, USA) 
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 Best Female Voal Group Alive
Having bought both 40 Days and Firecracker CDs and playing them daily, I can only compare this trio and the music to Dolly, Linda and Emmylou. After seeing them in person and being "blown away" I can only say that, buy there music, listen to it and fall in love.
Submitted by Jackson (Trenton, OH)
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 “SET YOUR SIGHTS A HOMEWARD”
The third recording from the amazing Wailin’ Jennys is a real corker. It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful album will be released this year. Following their first indie release and 2004’s gorgeous 40 DAYS, FIRECRACKER is even better. While many are focusing this year on the nice vocalizing of the magisterial Emmylou Harris and the quite different Mark Knopfler on their album of duets, ALL THE ROADRUNNING, FIRECRACKER may get much less attention than it deserves. You won’t hear more exhilarating harmony work than that of the Jennys in this new cd. Ruth Moody—of the sweetest soprano and a folkie bent—and Nicky Mehta—with a poignant mezzo voice and an otherworldly outlook—join their newest member, Annabelle Chvostek—who has her own beautiful alto and a nice edgy sensibility. Annabelle replaces Cara Luft in the trio and brings something wonderful to their already impressive musicianship. They all play acoustic instruments with great skill: Ruth—the accordion and banjo, Nicky—the harmonica and guitar, and Annabelle—a great mandolin and violin. As in their previous recordings, each of the Jenny’s manage to retain their own sound and songwriting style while forging an unmistakable “Jennys sound” that is intoxicating. “Home” is the recurring image and theme of FIRECRACKER. Nine of the 13 songs directly address this: --“leave the dream of hearth and home” --“in a better home soon I will reside.” --“a place to call your own, to call your home.” --“take me back to my beginning…take me home.” --“follow heart, follow home…one round heart, one round home.” --“now the coldest day of winter has made a home of my heart.” --“my soul now seeks another home” --“looking for a place to find some rest” --“you set your sights a homeward.” Loving the singing and writing of Ruth, Nicky and Annabelle, it’s hard to single out particular cuts in this uniformly superb production. I was, however, struck by the particular poignancy of Nicky’s songs (“Begin”—listen to the way she stretches her deliver of “let go,” “Starlight”—the affecting mantra of “take me home…take me home,” and “Avila”—a sweet and simple a capella number of exquisite harmony) and the exhilaration of Annabelle’s (“The Devil’s Paintbrush Road,” “Swallow,” “Apocalypse Lullaby,” and the great title tune, “Firecracker”). Ruth Moody, too, continues to compose and deliver songs right from the heart. Take yourself a homeward and listen.
Submitted by David (Annapolis, MD, USA)
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