Search - Various Artists :: Man of Constant Sorrow

Deborah J. from VISALIA, CA
Reviewed on 8/7/2006...

If you liked the instrumenatl music of O Brother Where Art Thou? you'll probably like this.

1/2 Stars...Somber, Reflective Instrumental Music

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 10/21/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this CD for several reasons. One, I enjoy music that has roots deep in our country's history. Two, There were a number of recognizable names here: John Sebastian, Brian Keane, Norman and Nancy Blake, Bill Keith and Tony Trischka. Three, well...it was cheap. I listen to the first track and it's a very pleasant--if not somber--fiddle-dominated piece. It reminded me of the PBS "Civil War" soundtrack. No surprise, Jay Ungar, who played fiddle on and composed the Grammy-winning "Ashokan Farewell" for that soundtrack, plays on this track along with his wife Molly Mason. In fact, they also appear on "Midnight on the Water," "Seneca Square Dance" and "When First Unto This Country." The opening track sets the tone for much of the album. Most of the songs (all instrumentals) are quiet, reflective pieces. If you were expecting this to be a collection of bluegrass songs like those found on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (as I was), you'll be disappointed. While many of these are bluegrass songs, they are not performed as such. The only track performed in a bluegrass style is the Bill Keith-Tony Trischka-Eric Weisberg interpretation of "Footprints in the Snow."While most of these tracks feature the guitar and/or fiddle as the lead instrument, Stacy Phillips plays Dobro on "Sweet Sunny South," Lorraine Lee adds dulcimer to "Shady Grove," John Whelan plays button accordian on "When First Unto This Country," and John Sebastian adds harmonica to "Wagoner's Land." This is pleasant background music, the kind you want to have playing on a rainy day to help dissolve the stress of the day. And sometimes that's all you should ask a piece of music to do."

First-rate roots music - and cheap!

B. Niedt | Cherry Hill, NJ United States | 05/07/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was a most pleasant find among the bargain CD's at my local Barnes and Noble. A joint project of budget label St. Clair and Celtic/world label Shanachie, it brings together an impressive stable of musicians from the worlds of folk, country, Celtic and New Age. Indeed, the music (instrumental arrangements of all-traditional tunes) is relatively low-key and respectfully treated, but the performances are perfectly executed - what you would expect from folks like Jay Unger and Molly Mason (of "Ashokan Farewell" fame), John Sebastian, Norman and Nancy Blake, Eric Weissberg, Celtic virtuosi Brian Keane and John Whelan, and others. This is a satisfying and relaxing album, easily worth more than its budget price."