The Bottom Line
From the simplicity of "No Names" to the fervency of "Mary Blaize" and the beauty of "Fare Thee Well," this record showcases one of the best Folksingers out of the last few years.
Pros
- "The Lark"
- "No Names"
- "You Belong to Me"
- "Wandering Soul"
Cons
- There's not a bad song on the CD
Description
- Rusby's voice wraps sweetly around her melodies.
- She's very adept at blending traditional aesthetics with modern themes.
- There's not a bad song on the record.
Guide Review - Kate Rusby - The Girl Who Couldn't Fly
In your imagination, Kate Rusby can shore up images of dark, starry nights, rain showers, and slow, easy mornings. Her songs of love, loss, loneliness, and longing are so endearingly lovely and honest, you almost want to find a tree to nap under.On her recent release, The Girl Who Couldn't Fly (Compass, 2005), Rusby proves herself a true artist. These are songs that bring traditional Folk characteristics into very infectious melodies.
Kate's knack for writing timeless songs is impressive. Her stories are clear and have a way of sucking the listener right in. The accompanied instrumentation lends itself kindly and sensibly to each tune, whether it's the quiet simplicity of "The Lark," or the upbeat, fervent "Mary Blaize."
Rusby’s songwriting skills just keep getting better. There are few artists who could sing lines like, “Is it wrong to wish you still need me” without it sounding needy and whiny. When Rusby does it, however, you’re able to understand and sympathize.
There are plenty of Folksingers fill their repertoires with sad songs about problem relationships, et cetera. But often these songs come across as grim complaints. Rusby’s tunes, are more often honest reminders of the range of human emotion, which gives as much weight to the sadness as the love.
You just can’t ask for more than a lovely voice, great lyrics, and pretty melodies. The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly has it all. Listen or Download
