Just got mine. Karin's voice is ripping me wide open.

This is probably gonna be my favorite album, but I think after this listen, I'm gonna have to put it away for a few days.

I just got it! I have not even listened to it all the way through yet but I will have plenty of time this afternoon.

"Quiet music should be played loud."

Definitely true...you need to play this album on a good stereo, turned up loud, in an old house with wood floors and plaster walls, with all the lights off (OK, maybe a candle so you don't break a leg), and with a glass of wine in hand.

And then play it again...

AMEN, sister. Try listening to it twice...it's over. Cracked wide open...raw emotion all the time...good lord.

I cannot put this away...maybe not EVER. I may listen to it forever.

The words I'm using to describe this album are a series of "altar calls" aimed at moving the listener from quiet, self-reflective moments within our own relationships towards reconciliation and redemption of our own love for each other. Karin & Linford have once again given us a glimpse of how the gospel reveals itself through the frailty and hopes of human relationships. The pace of most of these songs reminds me of those moments in church where "Just As I Am" prompted one more hand to raise....its difficult to listen to these offerings without being both uncomfortable and inspired.

Musically, I think this album stands more on Linford's mellifluous piano work and the cast of other instrumentalists than with Karin's vocal renderings. Moreover, the hand of the musician casts a stronger influence on the songs than that of the lyracist. Still, the dynamic duo manage to blend melody and voice into their own blend of homespun-adagio that draws us time and again into their world.

In the end, Over the Rhine gives us a genuine, yet carefully rendered glimpse of a relationship that took the extraordinary step articulating its source and character. We come to understand that communicating the depth of our love with those we cherish is the most artistic expression we can endeavor to create.

Oh Lord, do you see my hand?

David
(historyprof)

I'm expecting mine to be in my mailbox when I arrive home. I've found another article & review I haven't seen posted here yet:

http://www.cincypost.com/2005/03/25/otr032505.html

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&t...10:g5620r4aq48x

Thanks for posting these Jeanne. Thom Jurek writes an excellent and well written review.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&t...10:g5620r4aq48x


historyprof

Don't think I can agree on this point. It is primarily the simple, hearfelt lyrics and Karin's [even more than usually] enraptured and enrapturing vocals that make these tracks so special for me. Not that I have any complaints about Linford's musical contributions. In fact, I think Hush Now may be the best piece written for voice and piano since Schubert (or at least since Fats Waller).

Many thanks for those links, Jeanne! And I hope your mailbox is full tonight.

i agree keith. the vocals seem much higher in the mix that usual, they really seem to be "out front" more on this record than anything i have heard recently. as i have said, after hearing the record and most of these songs live (all but 2), this batch of songs, due to their intimacy, may be better on record than live. i'm not saying these songs aren't excellent live, they are. but the intimacy, the feel, the sound of the recordings, the way in which they were recorded, are amazing and are just hard to equal in a live setting. but, they still kick ass live.

[/quote]
i agree keith. the vocals seem much higher in the mix that usual, they really seem to be "out front" more on this record [/quote]


I was referring to the songwriting rather than the production. I apologize for the confusion. To clarify, it appears to me that the songswriting is more music rather than lyric driven. Especially the piano-based songs, they have all of the feel of Linford's solo albums....songs not driven by lyrics. On the otherhand, the guitar-based songs fit neatly within more familliar blend of lyric and rhythm. As a process, sometimes lyric fits on melody, sometimes vice versa. Other times, they come together at the same time. I just sense that as a process this time, the music was the chicken, the lyrics were the egg. You decide which came first.

historyprof

perhaps my only post as these things can monopolize my time
but wanted to share a few thoughts

i got my copy a few days ago...thursday?
through work connections (legal, i swear)
and after only really knowing "ohio"
i'm thoroughly impressed
i am by far no where near the ranks of those posting
and i apologize if that hurts anyone
but i do enjoy the music
it's beautiful
i love that it's raining now
and it's begun to thunder and lightning
"drunkard's prayer" hasn't really left my player since thursday
though it's fun to play it with "ohio" as the sound isn't too drastically different

"Quiet music should be played loud."

simple, yet profound? yeah.

well anyway, it's out tomorrow

thanks for putting up with this

-benjamin

"maybe i should just keep my big mouth shut"

Interesting coincidence...this is exactly what I plan to do this evening: pour up some cabernet, turn off the lights, turn up the album, lie down in my chair and listen to the music resonate off my turn-of-the-century apartment's wooden floors and plaster-covered brick walls.

I got the CD on Friday, but I've been waiting to listen until I've really had a chance to do this.

nice first post, benjamin. and welcome to our lovely Orchard!

I was wrong. Take a break...for your own sanity.

beyond help,
belly

Just an update...

Drunkard's Prayer IS the featured album on my show this week.

One song per hour (and maybe a little more) from 8-mid EST until Thursday night. I host an Americana music show down here in Morehead, KY... but you can tune in on-line at www.msuradio.com

I know this sounds like a spamvertisement, but I have been a big fan of Karin and Linford for a few years now and just want to let you know they have an outlet here in East/Central KY. So far, I've featured "Born," "Spark," and "Lookin' Forward." I've got time for at least one more tonight, and I'll probably expand my selection as the week rolls on. Tune in if you get a chance.

*hugs Annna*

Honey ... put the CD down for a while. Pick up something less dangerous, like a bottle of wine.

I finally did, thank goodness, though it was REALLY hard to do. I finally had to turn on the TV and just hope I could pay attention rather than want (with all my bones, including my eye teeth) to put it back on the CD player again. It took a while to focus, but I finally managed.

Thanks for the hug!

I wish my living room sounded as good! Great review in the AMG newsletter. Four Stars!

Scott

I posted this elsewhere, but it seems like the arrival of Drunkard's Prayer unleashed spring on my entire county. It was still freezing at night last weekend. Drunkard's Prayer arrived Monday night, and the next day, the birds returned, it was 70 degrees, I could wear shorts
for the first time all year, and I developed a horrible sinus infection.

Ever since I've been playing Firefly as loud as I can with the window open. I love this.


"Quiet music should be played loud."

Wasn't this in the liner notes to Good Dog Bad Dog or something? I'm positive I read this somewhere before because I used to put it on the cover of all my OtR sampler CDs. Am I clairvoyant?

Oh my God y'all:

Never--NEVER--has an album climbed the charts so quickly upon the 1st listen. I know this is the most cliche thing ever to say about an album that you like, but there is seriously not a single skip-able track on here. I love the whole pared down, organic type of sound anyway...and when one of my favorite bands does it as close to perfect as I've ever heard...well, damn.

I'm freaking serious. No Jump, Little Children Album; No Indigo Girls album...NOTHING has ever impressed me this much on the 1st listen. I'm hooked for life.

You know how when you go to a show where your favorite band is playing, and you know the tour is to promote the new album, but you kinda hope they play a good bit of old stuff as well? Well I don't give a good g--damn if they play DP in order every night that I'm in Dayton. I F'ng love this F'ng album.

Seriously.

i don't know where to post this....but any chance they'll do firefly live?? i noticed it wasn't on the setlists of the previous shows on this tour. (will beg if needed).

It struck me as the newest sounding song on the album. I'd read about a few of the others )Hush Now and Bluer) and even had two on bootlegs (Valentine and Who Will Guard the Door?) but Firefly seems to have blindsided all of us. I sure didn't see it coming. It sounds almost as if she was singing it for the first time.

FIREFLY is my fav, by far. It makes the album worth it to me... not that the others make it unworth it... eh, you know what I mean...

~fff

Someone needs to come take away my two copies (yes, Paste shipped the same day that I was "forced" to go local to pickup a copy) before I lock myself inside. You will also have to pry my iPod from my hands as well since it is on there.

Thankfully, I have enough willpower to intersperse the album with some upbeat Bela Fleck and Steven Delopoulos so I don't end up completely useless. Wow, I have a feeling that this album may be the perfect cure for a cold winter's night. Sorry, "Darkest Night of the Year", your place by a warm fire has been taken

I just stalked the mailman from my front window. He had a little box in his hands and then drove in the opposite direction of my apartment.

I'm starting to get really mad.

love,
the mauler™

how long you gonna wait before you go knockin' on their door, kylie?

Yes yes!! I received mine album today!!! And it sounds great! It survived the whole long trip from the US of A to the Netherlands in Europe!! Thanks to Paste Music and OTR!!

Ok, so I'm really happy for you... but come on! I live in Norwood! OHIO! The Netherlands?!

bah!

Not to laugh at your pain, but that has me rolling on the floor! The Netherlands!


Dear Lord,

Please let Kylie receive Drunkard's Prayer tomorrow.


Velour100: Welcome! That's a great band you borrowed your name from.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...03310312/-1/rss

"system unavailable"

what was the link?

from the cincinnati enquirer

got mine last night and had my first listen here at work....

'Firefly' is amazing....and as for the rest of the album, well, I hope it grows on me.

::does happy dance:: I got mine today!! I'm listening to it right now!! I'm way overly happy right now! It's beautiful! It's wonderful!

Happiness is mine.

Thanks for you're compliment! I like that band very much.

I'm sorry to hear that you still haven't received you're copy. And you are living much closer to OTR than I do.. (!?)

my copy of drunkards prayer FINALLY arrived today...
but it was worth the wait.
Good heavens, it's so beautiful I can barely stand it.
Nearly every song I want to repeat it again but I also want to hear what's next. Especially Hush Now, Little Did I Know and Firefly. But really all of them.
Karin and Linford, how do you do it?

OK I finally got mine. I really like it, except for the faux-weather-report bit on Little did I know. Reminds me too much of my ill spent youth. I had expected it to be a lot more silent, so I was pleasently surprised by Spark, which rocks in a very gentle way.

Patrik