Blurt - www.blurt-online.com - USBy Lee ZimmermanLike Dala and the Be Good Tanyas, the Wailin' Jennys have captured the hearts and affections of fans and folkies alike with their delicate three part harmonies and a host of inspired melodies. A combination of three impressive stand-alone resumes (those of members Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse), they've evolved as a female folk super group of sorts, one that thrives in the midst of their successful solo careers. This, the third studio album by this charming trio from Winnipeg Canada, soars on the strength of their glorious harmonies and arrangements that manage to be both delicate yet effusive all at the same time. Like their peers, the Jennys have a way of making original tunes - "Bird Song," "Across the Sea" and "Asleep at Last" being the most stunning examples - emulate an age-old pedigree, as if they were reframing traditional music and claiming it as their own.Granted, there's certain preciousness in their approach, which often blurs the distinction between individual entries. That's the hazard borne by these sparse set-ups, where the vocals are rendered practically a cappella and the accompaniment often seems incidental. Still, it's a small price to pay, and songs like the gospel-tinged "Storm Comin'," the Celtic-like hymns "Mona Louise" and "Bright Morning Stars," and the music hall melody of "Cherry Blossom Love" ably diversify the mix while maintaining the charm. Suffice it to say Bright Morning Stars is a lovely way to start any day... and an equally absorbing way to close it out as well.
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
Folk Roots/Folk Branches - CanadaBy Mike RegenstreifBright Morning Stars is the Winnipeg-based Wailin’ Jennys third full-length studio album and each of those albums has featured a slightly different line-up.Their debut EP, The Wailin’ Jennys, and first full-length studio album, 40 Days, featured original members Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Cara Luft.Firecracker, the second full-length studio album, featured Nicky, Ruth and Annabelle Chvostek; while on the 2009 live album, Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, and, now, Bright Morning Stars, Nicky and Ruth are joined by American singer-songwriter Heather Masse.As I noted in my review of Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, the Wailin’ Jennys have, with each personnel change, seemingly seamlessly adapted and evolved. There was something different, but consistently Jennyish, with each change. With the live album and several years of touring with Nicky and Ruth, Heather seems like a veteran member of the trio, hardly the new Jenny on the block.The Wailin’ Jennys take an egalitarian approach to the album. Each contributes four original songs on which she sings lead with the other two supplying their sublime harmonies and they also offer a stunning version of the traditional hymn-like “Bright Morning Stars,” sung in glorious three-part harmony.Highlights among Nicky’s songs include the opening track, “Swing Low Sail High,” at once both a confession to love’s shortcoming and a reaffirmation of love’s endurance, and “What Has Been Done,” a mysterious ballad, seemingly about a murder, or, perhaps, a suicide, that shows the influence of traditional Appalachian folksongs.Ruth’s highlights include “Storm Comin’,” a metaphorical piece about being prepared for what life and love have to offer, and “Asleep At Last,” a quiet, beautiful love song.Heather’s highlights include “Mona Louise,” partly a lullaby and partly a celebration of a new life, and “Cherry Blossom Love,” a haunting song that seems almost equally derived from both the folksong and jazz ballad traditions.As I noted in the introduction, these songs are – mostly – quiet and subtle and reveal more each time they’re heard.
Love, Canadian Style: The Wailin' Jennys Are Bright Morning (Afternoon and Evening) Stars
Huffington Post and NoDepression.comBy Michael BialasTalk about a sweetheart deal hours before Valentine's Day. Three angelic voices in one heavenly group called The Wailin' Jennys were making one of their first appearances in Colorado. If Cupid had only a single arrow, he wouldn't know where to aim.The Jennys -- Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse -- were in the middle of a five-date swing through the state on the first leg of a tour that began February 3 in Helena, Montana. This Jennys' Journey is in support of their third full-length studio release, the exquisite Bright Morning Stars (Red House Records, out since February 8 and already No. 1 on Billboard's bluegrass chart. (For a limited time, you can get a free download of "Swing Low Sail High" at Red House Records.)So for an early V-Day celebration, there was no better place to be on February 13 than Loveland, Colorado. Known as "America's Sweetheart City," it is famous for providing special valentine postmarks on love letters and cards requested by lovebirds from around the world.The intimate and historic 450-seat Rialto Theater in downtown Loveland was the perfect setting to hear the gifted Jennys, whose three voices blend so beautifully that you'll wonder, "Is this heaven?" Maybe not, but the soothing sounds from this triple threat are likely on the playlist at St. Peter's pearly gates.Though kid-friendly (tots, tweens and teens were spotted), the show that began without an opening act shortly after 7:30 was made for loving couples -- or those that could use a little spark."Well, hello there," cooed Moody after the group opened with Masse's "Bird Song," one of seven tunes they played from Bright Morning Stars' 13-song collection about love and loss. "We have the feeling that you're kind of romantic around these parts. That's the sense we got walking around. We also thought it was kind of funny that we're in Loveland on anti-Valentine's Day."The irony might have been lost on the Loveland, who prefer to express affection 365 days a year. One of the town's yearly money-raising projects involves decorating streetlight poles with big red hearts that include messages of love to each other's sweetie.This passion play had other, less visible signs of deep devotion. The crowd was lovingly respectful of the Jennys' delicate balancing act. They remained so you-can-hear-a-pin-drop quiet that the trio's deep breaths were clearly audible during a cappella versions of numbers including the traditional "Bright Morning Stars," "Kissing Double," Bruce Cockburn's "Going Down The Road" and "The Parting Glass," an old traditional Irish song that closed the show.Moody's soulful "Storm Comin,' " one of the new album's finest cuts, also was performed a cappella, but included foot stomps and hand claps, though the audience seemed reticent to join in.In fact, they were just fine sitting and listening, mostly in awe. Just before a 20-minute intermission and a rendition of "Glory Bound," from 2006's Firecracker and 2009's highly recommended Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, Moody sought a little crowd participation, requiring them to sing one word. In a crystal-clear soprano, she sweetly warbled "Hallelujah.""Can you try that with us?" Moody (right) asked. Many in the full house shook their heads in amazement, chuckling at the thought of trying to match her pitch-perfect display."Laughter is never a good sign," Moody said, resigned to the fact that the impromptu singalong might be doomed, no matter how earnest an attempt the amateurs might make. Ultimately, the three were on their own. With glorious pipes like these, isn't that the way it should be?Moody, the Winnipeg, Manitoba soprano who co-founded the group with fellow Canadian Mehta about nine years ago, is the most likely to succeed as a solo artist. (The Garden, her Juno-nominated album, was an under-the-radar release that deserved mention as one of 2010's best.) While sharing lead vocal duties, the classically trained vocalist and pianist displays instrumental versatility by playing banjo, guitar, accordion and bodhran (a one-sided Irish drum that looks a huge tambourine), and showed off those skills in four of the first five numbers.Moody's multitasking even included playing the tambourine with her foot on "Last Goodbye," Mehta's upbeat shout-out to "those of you who do believe in Valentine's Day. And believe in love lasting."The uninitiated might mistakenly identify "three-part harmonies" with the Lennon Sisters or the folkie spoof A Mighty Wind. The Wailin' Jennys surpass those labels on all levels. An equal-opportunity, three-dimensional assemblage, their melodies rate with that higher-profile power Trio of Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. The songwriting responsibilities are equitably distributed on Bright Morning Stars (each contribute four), and all unselfishly take turns in the concert spotlight.Obviously, a group whose name is a takeoff of country legend Waylon Jennings and have performed on Garrison Keillor's public radio show A Prairie Home Companion know how to show their sense of humor. They reveal that comedic flair during masterful storytelling intros to their songs."Fetching, each in their own unique way," was how one elderly admirer in the fourth row described them during intermission to his better half, one of the few apparently in an unromantic mood (or taking this anti-Valentine's Day thing to heart)."Fetching? Fetching how?" she said in a way best described as kvetching. "What do they fetch?"Well, they certainly know how to carry a tune.Nicky Mehta, who played guitar, ukulele, harmonica and a snare drum during the show, is an acerbic wit. Displaying a prominent tattoo on her right arm, this Salt-of-the-Earth Mother brings her twin 18-month-old boys along for the tour bus ride. When they were younger, Mehta said she put her sons in their Johnny Jump Ups to gauge how good her songs were.Introducing the Emmylou Harris/David Olney-penned "Deeper Well," Mehta said, "This next song is a winner to them. Inspired much height in the bouncing ... sometimes impact." The driving number including a fiery turn on the viola by Moody's brother, Richard. Dubbed the "Mad Jenny" by his kid sister, he also plays fiddle and mandolin as the tour replacement for previous sideman Jeremy Penner. Both are among a formidable group of skilled musicians (Colin Cripps, Kevin Breit, Bill Dillon) on the album that was co-produced by Mark Howard and David Travers-Smith, a frequent Jennys collaborator.The twins undoubtedly like Mehta's "Begin," too. The mezzo mommy's message stood out in this inspirational cut from Firecracker that's "an ode to being in the moment."Heather Masse, a New Yorker who joined the group in 2007, is the alto with the deep, blue voice. Nearly as statuesque as the upright bass she plays, the graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music grew up under the influence of jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. "They sang so many great songs, so many heartbreaking love songs," she offered."The woman (who's often the subject of these songs) just ... she just ... she just ... (laughing at her own hesitancy) she's just speechless because she's so heartbroken; it was the perfect thing for middle school. So I thought it was about time that I wrote my own little heartbreaking love song."Masse's swinging but ultimately sorrowful "Cherry Blossom Love" is a testament to that sentiment, when "time would turn their sunny day like magic into dusk."While other numbers like "Beautiful Dawn," from 2004's Juno Award-winning 40 Days, are about new beginnings and "perfect for anti-Valentine's Day," according to Moody, these bright, shining stars really know how to get to the heart of the matter.So when the tour heads east, resuming March 17 in Pennsylvania, plan to make a hot date with The Wailin' Jennys and prepare for the love affair to begin. Without the hugs and kisses.
Instant Replay...
Indie MusicologyIt wasn't that long ago that I was handed an album by Ruth Moody titled The Garden. I was so taken by the lyrical beauty and the clear, clean vocals that I became an instant fan. Much to my surprise, although it shouldn't have been, I found that Moody recorded that album while on hiatus from her regular group, The Wailin' Jennys, a group I knew of but had yet to hear. Well, the new Wailin' Jennys is finally here and I am happy to report that Bright Morning Stars is as good as expected. Moody is joined by bandmates Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse and the three have come up with another (though I have yet to hear another) gem. Time to listen in retrospect (read: go back to the earlier albums) and in the meantime, I leave you with this--- the official video of the making of the new album. I love this kind of stuff. Call it rockumentary or documentary or whatever you want, I seldom walk away from them without having gotten something good out of it.
Best of '11: The Wailin' Jennys Bright Morning Stars
Herohill.com - CanadaIt’s almost too easy to overlook The Wailin’ Jennys. Everyone wants to find the new buzz band in the hottest made up genre, and as a result, we let timeless melodies and stop-you-in-your-tracks vocal work slip through our fingers like handfuls of sand. With seemingly limitless talent, a musical appreciation that can make a music critic blush and a style as warm as a summer breeze, you just kind of assume the Jennys have been around forever, and always will be.That’s why it’s hard to believe it’s been almost 6 years since they’ve put out a record. Admittedly, even if they only played the occassional live show, the way the band charms audiences with their beautiful performances (for those not fortunate enough to see them yet, do yourself a frickin service and pick up their lovely live record today) the chance to hear them sing would be noteworthy. The Jennys bring crowded rooms to a hush with hearfelt a capellas and challenge the devil himself with moving gospel songs and if they never set foot in the studio again, they’ve long since earned a spot in the rich tradition of Canadian roots/bluegrass music.But then you hear the transition The Wailin’ Jennys make on Bright Morning Stars; a fuller, more layered sound and a new lineup (the first WJ studio experience for New Yawk based upright bassist/song writer Heather Masse). Backed by a collection of some of the finest session musicians in Canada, The Jennys experiment with jazzier arrangements, country soul and surprisingly poppy singalongs. Somehow, the band feels completely new even though the instruments, talent and approach remains the same. The highlights are countless; perfect vocal interplay, the tasteful horns that dot the open soundscape on “Across the Sea”, the delightful gospel gem Ruth’s “Storm Comin’”, and the grit of “What Has Been Done” come to mind, but really each and every song on the record holds up nicely and showcases each woman’s various strengths.I could go on and on but the songs speak for themselves. My advice; buy this record absorb every note and as you are engrossed in the vocal work the women display on the a capella title track (the only traditional number on the record), it will become evident that The Jennys are amongst our country’s brightest shining stars. We just need to start acknowledging it.
The Wailin' Jennys: Bright Morning Stars
The Music Critic - U.K.Bright Morning Stars is the 4th major release from the popular Canadian 3 piece female group The Wailin' Jennys. As with their previous releases it is the vocal interaction of Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse that is the star of the show. There is something comforting, warm and welcoming about what they do and they do it so, so well. All three girls have mesmerising voices and they write songs that allow those voices to take the lead with sympathetic arrangements playing the supporting role.The pop overtones of album opener Swing Low Sail High will guarantee them heavy radio rotation for what is as near perfect a song for summer as you will find. The girls sound oh so comfortable when they have a quality ballad to work with and All The Stars provides them with exactly that with the rhythmic Ukulele playing of Justin Haynes blending perfectly with the strings of Richard Moody and Paul Mathew for a truly beguiling song. The acapella arrangement of the traditional Appalachian hymn Bright Morning Star is just stunning and a real hairs on the back of the neck moment. Previously recorded by Ruth Crawford Seeger, The Stanley Brothers and Sweet Arcade, the girls have added a version to the list that may become the benchmark. It is however Across The Sea that pips Bright Morning Star as the stand out track on this mighty fine album. This is a beautifully arranged song with the surprise inclusion of a flugel horn lending a haunted aspect to its atmosphere.This is their most accomplished album to date with production to match and should surely secure the band as an act of international proportions, especially when they are capable of writing songs of the quality of Asleep At Last and You Are Here. My only complaint, and it is a small one, is that musically they have evolved very little since 2004's 40 Days. I suppose if it ain't broken....4/5 Stars
Bright Morning Stars - The Wailin' Jennys
AllMusicBy James Christopher MongerSince 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 shanteys 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.
Live Review: The Wailin' Jennys @ the L2 Arts and Culture Center
ReverbBy Colleen SmithThe Wailin’ Jennys lend new meaning to the phrase “harmonic convergence.” The women (two Canadians and an American) braided their vocals to create perfect chords at the L2 Arts and Culture Center on Friday.I first heard the Jennys on Garrison Keillor’s radio program, “A Prairie Home Companion,” typically broadcasting throwback bands and folkie musicians. Keillor has invited the Jennys back to PHC more than once. He once commented on air that if he ever were to get married again, he’d hire the Jennys to sing at his wedding.The Wailin’ Jennys do sweeten their music with a traditional element of tender romance, but a melancholy bittersweetness prevents any sticky saccharine. At Friday’s sold-out Swallow Hill show, the Jennys heartfelt love songs provided a perfect prelude to Valentine’s Day.The mixed-generation crowd seemed well aware of the Wailin’ Jennys’ music, despite the fact that the sold-out concert was the band’s first ever show in Denver. An attentive audience fell silent during songs, allowing for every nuance of their delicate acoustic tunes.The three songbirds turned in tightly knit harmonies reminiscent of “Trio” — the combination of Emmylou Harris, Linda Rondstadt and Dolly Parton. A rapturous set-list blended one part Appalachia, one part heavenly host, one part Pointer Sisters, one part Indigo Girls.The band did a few covers. “Bring Me Li’l Water Silvy” allowed me to forget for several minutes the fact that we live in the digital age of robots and phones smarter than I.Each of the Jennys writes songs, so they’ve developed a broad catalog of original material. Selections from their brand new release “Bright Morning Stars,” including the title track, “You Are Here” and “Bird Song,” convinced me to buy the fresh CD.Ruth Moody invited audience participation on “Glory Bound,” her “non-denominational Gospel song.” The sing-along succeeded because the Swallow Hill crowd can carry a tune. Moody’s song “One Voice” is, for my money, one of the most hauntingly beautiful and hopeful songs ever recorded. I bought the live CD for these songs.The Jennys also are accomplished instrumentalists. Moody alternates between acoustic guitar, banjo, accordian and bodhran (that funky, handheld Irish drum), and on one number multi-tasked by playing a tambourine with her foot. Heather Masse plucks an upright bass. Nicky Mahta plays acoustic guitar, percussion and ukelele.The Jennys’ act is something of an extended family. Moody’s brother accompanies on fiddle. Mahta’s husband serves as the sound man.To their credit, Swallow Hill anticipated the popularity of the Wailin’ Jennys, booking them at L2, an elegantly cool concert venue. Swallow Hill concerts lean heavily toward amiable, laid-back ambiance; so during the Jennys’ encore, when the three songbirds split their guts laughing on three attempts at an a capella song, nobody minded. The audience laughed along.Aside from an impromptu crack-up, don’t expect any sensationalism or outrageousness: The Jennys don’t need it. They trade not on shenanigans or shock value, but talent.