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.
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
Winnipeg Free PressBy Bruce LeperreIt was 2006 when local Juno winners the Wailin' Jennys last blessed us with a studio release. Since then, Heather Masse replaced Annabelle Chvostek and, with founding members Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody, released a critically acclaimed live disc while Moody and Masse both made their solo debuts.Leaving behind the livelier bluegrass influence of previous recordings, producers Mark Howard (Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Neil Young) and David Travers-Smith (Oh Susanna) join musicians Colin Cripps (Blue Rodeo, Kathleen Edwards), Kevin Breit (Norah Jones), Jeremy Penner (Scruj MacDuhk), Christian Dugas (the Duhks) and Richard Moody (the Bills) in entwining guitar, Dobro, banjo, fiddle, viola, ukulele and accordion with the celestial voices of Mehta, Moody and Masse. The trio's impeccable three-part harmonies drape over gentle, often sparse, yet striking, folk backdrops that include pre-'60s country (Cherry Blossom Love), rapturous pop (Swing Low, Sail Higher) and soulful gospel (Storm Comin').Bright Morning Star is a tasteful and beautifully crafted affair of unadulterated sonic bliss. 'Ö'Ö'Ö'Ö
Midway Through the Rockies
We are hanging out in Denver right now after a sold-out show last night to a truly amazing crowd. What took us so long???
It's been a great first visit to Colorado so far, complete with amazing food, stunning scenery, and two very restorative days off in the picturesque ski-town of Crested Butte. After lots of big talk about skiing and snowboarding, most of us just rested up and caught up on work while we were there. But we did all get to check out the town and some of us (whose stomachs could handle it) ate fish tacos and drank margaritas at a sweet little Mexican restaurant called Teocalli Tamale. During the day, no less. Not something you'll see us do every day, but hey, sometimes it feels right.
We also made dinner and had a belated celebration for our new record release. It's so rare that we have access to a kitchen so we went nuts and made bacon wrapped dates, a big hearty salad, and scallion potato pancakes (which were lovingly prepared by Heather, who also made apple cinnamon pancakes for desert, because one kind of pancake per meal is just not enough). We would have celebrated on the big release day but we were in the middle of a 17 hour drive from Billings to Crested Butte and still recovering from a nasty and debilitating stomach virus that swept through our travelling party and put several of us in the hospital. Our bus-driver Gene is a hero. So are Nicky and Grant for getting themselves and their boys through this illness (with the help of our amazing road-angel, Tracy).
Thanks to the illness it's been a somewhat challenging tour so far, but we are kept going by your encouraging words and loving messages and we are continually amazed and grateful to see so many of you at the shows. Special thanks to all of you in Billings who were able to come out to the rescheduled show last Monday, and apologies once again to those who couldn't. We have not had to cancel a show in the nine years we've been together and we hated to have to do it last weekend. Thank you all for being so understanding, and then some.
We have three more shows here in this uncharted territory for us that is Colorado: Loveland, Aspen and Durango. Then we finish off this leg of the tour with a return to Albuquerque, where we haven't been for four years. New Mexico in February is just fine by us.
It's wonderful to finally have Bright Morning Stars out in the world.~ ruth
Wailin' Jennys Make A Joyful Noise
Times Record News - Wichita Falls, TXBy Don ChanceI was going to comment on "Bright Morning Stars" by the Wailin' Jennys with the "girl" albums from last week, but there just wasn't room. Not that there's much more room this week, but I've got to get it out there because these ladies deserve to get a little newspaper ink.With voices like angels, and the sweetest vocal harmony in the business, Canadian songbirds Nicky Mehta, Heather Maase and Ruth Moody are one of the hottest acoustic trios in the world as The Wailin' Jennys, even if mainstream country radio has basically ignored them.Their new album, "Bright Morning Stars," is an endlessly interesting mix of contemporary and traditional, uptown and down-home, happy and haunting, and every song is a rare crystal gem of sound that gently demands close listening and fond contemplation."Bright Morning Stars" is a delight, and I'm definitely a new fan.NEXT rating: A-
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
Tuesday Guide by Alan Cross (Canada)February 8, 2011The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning StarsBillboard-charting and JUNO Award winning The Wailn' Jennys are back with their hotly anticipated new studio album Bright Morning Stars. Their previous studio album, Firecracker, released in 2006, spent an astonishing 54 weeks on the Billboard Bluegrass Top 10 Albums chart. Their most recent release, Live At The Mauch Chunk Opera House peaked at #2 on the same chart, and #25 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. For Bright Morning Stars, The Wailin' Jennys enlist the talents of award-winning producer Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, U2). With a major tour of North America starting February 2011 (including an appearance on NPR's A Prairie Home Companion) Bright Morning Stars has already become one of the most anticipated folk releases of 2011.