Search - Wailin' Jennys :: Fifteen

Fifteen is the first new recording in six years from contemporary folk's most popular group, The Wailin' Jennys. An entrancing collection of cover songs, it includes tunes by Tom Petty, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton, and is their first new music since 2011's acclaimed album, Bright Morning Stars. For founding members Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody, along with longtime member Heather Masse, Fifteen celebrates a 15-year musical partnership that has resulted in four award-winning studio albums and one live recording on Red House Records, three of which landed the trio on the Billboard charts, while garnering the band a worldwide fanbase. "They are all songs that are close to our heart for one reason or another or that feel appropriate for the times," says Moody. "Some are songs we've had arranged for a while but haven't had the chance to record. The others were brought to the mix for this record." Featuring their often-imitated but never surpassed vocals, The Wailin' Jennys cover nine of their favorite songs, opening with their starkly beautiful rendering of "The Old Churchyard," a triumph over death where the "clay will rise up," sung a cappella over a single droning organ tone, followed by their gorgeous full-band acoustic version of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers." Other highlights include their version of Emmylou Harris's "Boulder to Birmingham," their update of Paul Simon's "Loves Me Like a Rock" (from a women's point of view), songs by Jane Siberry, Warren Zevon, Patty Griffin and others. There's also an achingly beautiful, a cappella version of Dolly Parton's "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" that resonates as a call to hope in these troubled political times. All three band members sing and play a variety of instruments (acoustic guitar, accordion, banjo, ukulele) to create a shimmering tapestry of rich vocals and instrumentals. Additional musicians include Richard Moody (Ruth's brother), Sam Howard, Adrian Dolan and Adam Dobres. Produced by The Wailin' Jennys, Fifteen is a gorgeous feather in the cap of the band that has thrilled millions of listeners to A Prairie Home Companion radio.