www.getreadytorock.com - UKBy Pete WhalleyWhile they might not be a familiar name on the UK scene, on the other side of the pond The Wailin' Jennys are one of the most popular folk/roots bands. And having 'crossed over' with their last album to the more popular alt country / pop / rock scene, Bright Morning Stars looks likely to expand the band's appeal.With 3 award winning albums already under their collective belts (two of which spent over a year on the Billboard charts) Ruth Moody (vocals. acoustic guitar, accordion, banjo), Nicky Mehta (vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele) and Heather Masse (vocals) have teamed up with Grammy nominated producer Mark Howard (Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris) and long time collaborator David Travers-Smith to record this 13 track album of Americana, folk and country pop.Accompanied by some of Canada's finest session players the album is packed with crystal clear vocals and sweet harmonies that falls squarely in the backyard of Court Yard Hounds (i.e. The Dixie Chicks minus the 'bite' of Natalie Maines).Ranging from acapella to sultry jazz, it's an excellent set that's never less than an absorbing listen. But the highlight is undoubtedly when the girls spread their wings on the Ruth Moody penned Storm Comin' - a sultry smokin' gospel blues piece. More of the same please, girls. ***1/2
Bright Morning Stars - The Wailin' Jennys
www.backroadsmusic.co.ukBy Cate MitchellWhen a band possesses such proven pedigree as The Wailin’ Jennys, a real weight of pressure is brought to bear on each new release. Will it live up to the quality of its predecessor? Will those wonderful voices still sparkle? Will the ladies deliver? Unsurprisingly, it’s pretty much a unanimous yes in response to all three. There is the expected mix of pared-down arrangements and more fully-realised numbers synonymous with the line-up. Of course, throughout proceedings the beautiful harmonies associated with the Jennys are foregrounded and, as usual, it is these that make the whole thing such a pleasure on the ear.No amount of superlatives do justice to the sheer majesty of the opener, “Swing Low Sail High”. While it has one foot firmly planted in folk and roots, the other would be at home on myriad commercial country records. It’s radio-friendly and hummable but still, unmistakeably The Wailin’ Jennys.The banjo on “Bird Song” gives it a timeless quality and it sits very comfortably with the hugely pleasant “Mona Louise” and the instantly familiar, flugelhorn-driven “Across the Sea”. The pace is picked up a little in the latter stages by the delightful swing of “Cherry Blossom Love”.Those who have previously dismissed folk-roots music as a narrow genre discouraging of experimentation and frowning upon the ploughing of new ground would do well to listen to Bright Morning Stars. Ostensibly, the album has a stripped-down feel but there is a subtly superb mix of superior instrumental musicianship that draws the ear time after time. Incredible opener aside, choosing the most impacting track is a toss-up between the massively atmospheric “Storm Comin’” and the siren-like acapella of the title track.Even at the points where the album lulls there is little discernable drop in quality. The odd clumsy rhyme creeps in, but overall the sheer quality of the material on offer here shines through. Bright Morning Stars is well-recorded, well-produced and will certainly be well-deserving of all the plaudits it will doubtless receive upon release. Sure, you could argue that this is not to everyone’s taste, but you’d have to say it would take a particularly cold heart not to be warmed by the sheer gorgeousness of the harmonies on offer here.
Bright Morning Stars - The Wailin' Jennys
www.newsreview.com - Chico, CABy Jaime O'NeillSome might say that the three singers who now comprise The Wailin’ Jennys aren’t the same group of women who started out in Winnipeg, Canada, nearly a decade ago, but they’ve actually only switched out one player (twice), and these Jennys are still wailin’ in the same vein. This album is, to my mind, their best yet. The trio currently consists of Heather Masse with founding members Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta, and they do themselves proud here. This is a gorgeous set of songs. The title track will make the hair stand up on your arms, tapping into the deep well of magic music sometimes plumbs. The vocal harmonies are soaring, and they’re flawless. Some albums seem promising at first listening but quickly turn dull. Bright Morning Stars, however, rewards repeat visits. This is one of those rare albums that keeps getting better the more you listen to it. In addition to the title track, “Storm Comin’” is one of the best of a very good lot here. For those who aren’t likely to hear real angel voices up yonder, the Wailin’ Jennys may be as close as you’re ever going to get.
Readers' Pick: The Wailin' Jennys, "Bright Morning Stars"
TwangvilleBy Tom OsborneTwangville readers recently picked The Wailin’ Jennys Bright Morning Stars as their favorite album of February 2011. Jazz vocalist Heather Masse joins Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta as the third Jenny in their first studio album in 5 years. Each contributed 4 songs each for a total of 12 original songs plus the album’s namesake “Bright Morning Stars” a traditional folk song. Masse, Moody, and Meht offer a unique authenticity to the record since all three sing, write, and play instruments. In keeping with their down home style the album was recorded in a cottage near Haliburton, Ontario.I have to admit I didn’t find the record all too remarkable at first. But sure enough, it get’s sweeter with each listen. Co-producers Mark Howard and David Travers-Smith deserve much credit for the production quality of the record. “Bird Song” typifies the album with it’s beautiful, spring-like quality. “Bright Morning Stars” will take you to the river to pray with it’s transcendent harmony. “Storm Comin’” intensifies the record with it’s thunderous bluesy angle. All told, “Bright Morning Stars” is a refreshing take on traditional folk that is sure to please.★★★★
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
The Lonesome Highway - www.lonesomehighway.com - UKAn all singing, all sitting trio who have already released some acclaimed albums. Bright Morning Stars sees the trio of Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse deliver a set of retrained songs that have a striking vocal presence with each of the trio handling lead and harmony vocals on a set of self written songs with one traditional song thrown in, in the shape of the crystal clear unaccompanied and haunting Bright Morning Stars. The sound is folk based and acoustic but filled out by the full band which includes bass and drums as well as electric lead guitar from the likes of Colin Cripps. Produced with taste by Mark Howard and David Travers-Smith it is a tapestry of understated tones that allow the vocals to take centre stage and beguile the listener. Another part of the current wave of interesting roots based acts from Canada the Wailin' Jennys sound is part of a recent folk linage that links the Americas with their European heritage. Across The Sea lyrically is about a woman's love for her man wherever he may be, at sea or elsewhere. Many of the songs have a sense of longing and love that may not be always that easy to obtain and that sense of distance is there within the voices. This is a gentle, quiet but undeniably attractive music that is far from the wailin' of their name but rather a more siren like call. An album that should be heard in that context, it will only enhance their reputation.
The Wailin' Jennys' 'Bright Morning Stars' Tackles Love, Loss
Voice of AmericaBy Katherine Cole
Some bands are birthed after months of auditions, trying to find just the right lyricist to mesh with an incredible singer and stellar guitar player. Others are more of a happy accident. The Wailin’ Jennys fall into that latter category. The group began at a one-time-only show in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. But the band is still going strong four CDs later.The title track is the only non-original song on the new Wailin’ Jennys CD. It’s a traditional song called “Bright Morning Stars” done a cappella, or without instruments, and featuring vocals by all three Jennys.Their name might be a takeoff on the late country star Waylon Jennings, but The Wailin’ Jennys are serious about making good music. Their first CD, 2004’s 40 Days, earned them a Juno Award, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy, while also winning great acclaim in the United States. Bright Morning Stars, is home to 12 original songs and is their first release since 2009. In the years between, the band exploded on the roots music scene, and their new CD hit the top spot of the Billboard magazine Bluegrass chart two weeks after its release.Bright Morning Stars is built around The Wailin’ Jennys three part harmonies. If there is a theme to the disc, it might be love and loss. The CD opens with “Swing Low Sail High,” featuring writer Nicky Mehta singing lead.The Wailin’ Jennys Nicky Mehta is described as a “trained dancer raised on classical music.” She’s the Jenny who wrote “Sing Low Sail High” and also sang lead on the track. In 2002, Nicky formed The Wailin’ Jennys with Ruth Moody, a classically trained pianist and vocalist-turned-folk musician. Ruth wrote and sings lead on four of the songs on Bright Morning Stars, including “Asleep At Last.”The third member of The Wailin’ Jennys is Heather Masse, the lone U.S. native. She joined in 2007, bringing with her a background in jazz. Like her two band mates, Heather is also a songwriter and contributed four tracks to Bright Morning Stars, including “Cherry Blossom Love” which showcases the bands harmony singing.
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
Fatea Magazine - UKAny of the three vocalists in The Wailin' Jennys could cut it as a solo artist and yet, remarkably, the sum of the parts still seems to outweigh the individual voices. Despite the multitude of instruments used on the album, all sympathetically, nothing distracts from the strength of the harmony vocals and the words they convey. The slow pace of "Bright Morning Past" allows you to absorb the quality that runs through the album. It's Americana with a gospel twist, giving the whole album an almost timeless feel. "Bright Morning Stars" positively sparkles with vocal delight.
New Jersey Herald - Wailin' Jennys Have Special Vocal Blend
By ROBERT PRICEbprice@njherald.comNEWTON -- It's not much of a stretch to describe the music of the Wailin' Jennys as Canadian Americana. But their innovative sounds, melodic harmonies and contemporary songwriting put a modern spin on traditional folk and roots music.Their brand new album, "Bright Morning Stars," is a vocal and instrumental tapestry of their special blend of "roots-pop." The Wailin' Jennys just started stage two of a tour in support of their new CD and one of their first stops is Sussex County Community College for two shows Thursday.All three band members -- Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse -- contribute to the 12 original songs, singing and playing a variety of instruments.The group was born by accident in 2002 when Moody, Mehta and Cara Luft played together at a guitar shop in their hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and unexpectedly created a magical sound. Luft has since left, but that magical sound remains, thanks to the addition of New Yorker Masse."First of all, I think we're really fortunate to have the vocal blend we do. Without that, nothing else matters and we've been so lucky to find a great blend together," Mehta said."On top of that, I think a shared love of singing, similar music tastes but different influences, respect for each other's songwriting, there are many aspects that contribute. I think we all love to perform and we all share a similar desire to connect to people through our songs and through the live performance of those songs. We are all different people, but we share similar visions of what we seek to do with our music. And that equals good chemistry, I think," she said.The Feb. 8 release of "Bright Morning Stars" represents the group's first album with Masse. The songs speak of this world and the one beyond. Often the message involves searching for what has been lost, on several levels."This is our first studio album with Heather Masse and she brings some wonderful elements to the table," Mehta said. "Her songs have great energy and they mix so well with Ruth's and my tunes so I think it's a really well-balanced and full album. This album, like the others is mostly about the vocals and the interplay between our voices and the songs. We all contribute four originals and there is a lot of variety in the writing. Also, like our other albums, it also is full of beautiful instrumentation thanks to our amazing players...."Those players are some of Canada's finest session musicians, including Bill Dillon (Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel), Kevin Breit (Norah Jones), Colin Cripps (Kathleen Edwards), Richard Moody (The Bills) and frequent Jennys sideman Jeremy Penner on fiddle. The album was recorded in a cottage near Haliburton, Ontario, and released on Red House Records.Overall, it's the group's fourth album. The first, "40 Days," released in 2004, won a Juno (Canadian Grammy) Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year. Around the same time the Jennys started making regular appearances on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion public radio show.Their second album, "Firecracker," was nominated for a Juno, won a Folk Alliance Award and charted over 56 weeks on the Billboard charts.In 2009, The Wailin' Jennys released "Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House," recorded at the venerable, historic and acoustically perfect theater in Jim Thorpe, Pa. This album spent over a year on the Billboard bluegrass charts, capturing their witty stage banter and expert musicianship in addition to their vocal harmonies."Our fans had been asking for a live album for a long time and we love the opera house in Jim Thorpe. It's a gorgeous sounding room and at the time we were scheduled to play there in 2008, it was just perfect timing to take a stab at recording a live album. We didn't know what we'd end up with and weren't sure we would get what we wanted for a live album so we just went in with the attitude that we would be fine with whatever happened. There wasn't a whole lot of pressure, which was good. But the stars aligned and we were really happy with it. It was a lot of fun, the audience was great and the sound was excellent. That's all you need," Mehta said.Soprano Ruth Moody (vocals, guitar, accordion, banjo, bodhrán) is a classically trained vocalist and pianist known as an accomplished, versatile singer of traditional and Celtic music and as the former lead singer of Juno-nominated roots band Scruj MacDuhk. She recently released her first full-length solo album, "The Garden," whose title track was the No. 4 most played song of 2010 on international folk radio.Mezzo Nicky Mehta (vocals, guitar, harmonica, drums, ukulele), a trained dancer raised on classical music, '70s a.m. radio and influenced by alternative pop, was nominated for a Canadian Indie Music Award for her solo album "Weather Vane."Alto Heather Masse (vocals, upright bass), a Maine native, is a jazz voice graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, who has performed in Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing and Darol Anger's Republic of Strings.For more information about The Wailin' Jennys, visit www.thewailinjennys.com.