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Hymns of the 49th Parallel
by Nonesuch
| List Price: |
$18.98 |
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$14.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
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$3.99 (21%) |
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Audio CD
Publisher: Nonesuch
Hymns of the 49th Parallel fulfills k.d. lang’s longstanding desire to create a Canadian songbook. On the album, her first for Nonesuch Records, she pays homage to fellow Canadian artists including Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Jane Siberry, Ron Sexsmith, and Bruce Cockburn.
Was it homesickness that compelled longtime Los Angeles resident k.d. lang to fashion her one-woman campaign for north-of-the-border nationalism, or just plain good sense? All Canadian content has long been a mainstay of the Canadian Broadcasting System, but few have selected their material with such a fine hand and a high aesthetic. The expatriate singer has taken great pains to create a sophisticated homage to her Canadian roots, elegantly reinterpreting 11 songs penned by some of her more illustrious countrymen (and women) such as Jane Siberry, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen. The idiosyncratic chanteuse turns Cohen's "Bird on a Wire" into an aching monochromatic lament, exploring new tributaries of pain that didn't exist in the original, while recasting Neil Young's "Helpless" into a haunting anthem of memory and comfort, all the while sounding anything but helpless. A gorgeous love letter to her brethren, complete with an intelligent and understated orchestration. --Jaan Uhelszki
| Customer Reviews: |
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| Great covers of mellow Canadian songs |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Canada has a rich musical heritage, to which k d lang has contributed much since she first emerged in the eighties. As you probably know, k d has long been something of a maverick for a variety of reasons and has pursued her musical career in her own way, not being afraid of controversy. This has sometimes worked to her disadvantage, but the longevity of her career shows that she is succeeding on her own terms. I haven't contributed much to that success as the only other album of hers that I owned prior to buying this was Shadowland, although I bought that one twice - first on vinyl and later on CD.
On this album, k d pays tribute to her fellow Canadians by recording a selection of their songs. Two songs each by Neil Young (After the gold rush, Helpless), Joni Mitchell (A case of you, Jericho), Jane Siberry (The valley. Love is everything) and Leonard Cohen (Hallelujah, Bird on a wire), together with one each by Bruce Cockburn (One day I walk) and Ron Sexsmith (Fallen), plus a song that k d co-wrote (Simple) make up the album. Of the original artists, I am a huge fan of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell but I haven't listened to most of the others.
The songs are of the mellow variety, so perhaps some people may complain about the lack of variation in tempo (though I`m happy with it), but the songs are all of a high quality. The music features piano, keyboards, accordion, guitars, bass, drums and plenty of strings, but k d`s voice is the most important instrument by far, and it sounds as good as ever.
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| Excellent CD. |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Hymns of the 49th Parallel
I think that K.D.Lang picked excellent songs for this CD.
She did her usual good job singing the selections and the music
arrangements were excellent!
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| Wow, I love this album. |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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First, let me say I have never been a huge K.D. Lang fan, but this album blew me away when I first heard it. Her vocals are outstanding, the song selection is relevant and flows well for the listener, and it is an outstanding album to relax with after a hard day. I frequently listen to this album when in my vehicle and everyone always asks who I am listening to. When I tell them, they are surprised by who the artist is and how good this album is. As I said, I am no life-long-Lang fan. I just know I love listening to the music and vocals on this album.
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| The Ultimate k.d. |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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The arts are such a personal thing and we all have our own preferences so it's difficult to recommend artistic renditions to anyone. With that in mind, I absolutely LOVE this CD! In my opinion it is k.d. lang at her finest! I'm a fan of all the Canadian artists she covers on this CD; I'm a fan of k.d. lang. This is the ultimate combination! As for k.d. lang, no one has a voice like this woman! Pure velvet with a touch of smoke. I totally recommend this CD!
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| Mellow out with this Music |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I actually bought this K.D. Lang CD for her Hallelujah song. Thankfully I am pleased with the entire CD for my listening pleasure. It is a nice mellowing experience when I am in the mood.
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After the Gold Rush (Young)
Simple (lang/Piltch)
Helpless (Young)
A Case of You (Mitchell)
The Valley (Siberry)
Hallelujah (Cohen)
One Day I Walk (Cockburn)
Fallen (Sexsmith)
Jericho (Mitchell)
Bird on a Wire (Cohen)
Love Is Everything (Siberry)
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