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k.d. lang
Hymns of the 49th Parallel
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k.d. lang has been on the scene in various guises for some 20 years now. She's been a cowgirl, a chanteuse, an ingenue and a pop-stylist (in duet with the wonderful Tony Bennett). On 'Hymns of the 49th Parallel', lang lends her beautiful, dusky voice to this tribute album to her Canadian homeland and the works of some of
Canada
's finest contemporary singer/songwriters. She interprets the 11 songs here (one is an original) in a very unintrusive, basic fashion - acoustic guitar, piano, acoustic bass, cello, strings - her marvelous vocal instrument front-and-center, with unparalleled control...spot-on, note perfect, yet effortless. The mood of this disc well-reflects the colder, wintery cover art associated with the northern lights, as well as the gentle, simple, welcome warmth of home and hearth.
Mellow, that's the word...or maybe laid-back...describes lang's take on this music. She covers two songs each by Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and (the greatest singer/songwriter no one ever heard of) Jane Siberry, and one each by lang/Piltch, Bruce Cockburn and Ron Sexsmith. All Canadian, all the time, and what a list, eh ?! (Canadian or otherwise, among the very best of the best.) Young's "After the Gold Rush" and "Helpless" are luxurious and warm, lang's vocals caressing each word with obvious loving care. The same for Cohen's classics "Hallelujah" and "Bird on a Wire"...emotion simply drips from langs' take on the former (and it is, perhaps, one of the most beautiful songs ever written). Stunning songs, stunning performances. lang, doing Mitchell's "A Case of You" (a true love letter to
Canada
) and "
Jericho
", gives these songs new life and, hopefully, introduces them (and Mitchell) to a whole new generation. Siberry's "The Valley" and "Love is Everything" sport low sparks of new, even greater genius. (I truly hope that someday Jane Siberry will receive the attention she so rightly deserves.)
This is an excellent concept for an exceptional album, and I predict it will be lang's best-seller yet, and will re-introduce her to an even larger group of adoring fans. On 'Hymns of the 49th Parallel', k.d. lang sings her love of
Canada
and its songwriting sons and daughters in one of the most beautiful recordings of the year. Simple. Simply put...simply sublime. Could be one of the year's best. Get it for the quality of the songs, or the quality of lang's voice, or both, but get it. Very highly recommended.
Release Date: July 27, 2004
Tracks: 11 - Time: 48:00
Produced by: k.d. lang & Ben Mink
Format: CD
Website: www.kdlang.com
Track Listing:
After the Gold Rush / Simple / Helpless / A Case of You / The Valley / Hallelujah / One Day I Walk / Fallen / Jericho / Bird on a Wire / Love is Everything.
k.d. lang:
k.d. lang - Vocals
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