[.ca] Tall Tales

From Amazon.com:
From the first visceral instant when Elana Fremerman drags bow across fiddle, you know Tall Tales is already an improvement over Hot Club of Cowtown's fine debut Swingin' Stampede. New producer Dave Stuckey (formerly of the Dave and Deke Combo) charges every scratch, twang, and pop from this swingin' fiddle-guitar-doghouse bass trio with the tactile punch of a live gig. The result is that the band's virtuoso mix of old-time fiddle tunes, hot jazz, Western swing, and early-century Tin Pan Alley--everything from "Sally Goodin'" to the Burke and Van Heusen standard "Polka Dots and Moonbeams"--finally comes off as gritty as it is sweet and, consequently, better than ever. Tall Tales confirms that this Hot Club is the only emerging swing-revival band to compare favorably to the masters of swing. And, most impressively, when the group expands beyond a trio by adding trumpet and piano (particularly on an original torch song called "When I Lost You"), its bright future comes into clear focus. --David Cantwell

music for the happy side of your soul:
I dunno, like the music a lot, but then i almost like every swing-revivel cd out there. This is the first review i write, i'm writing it because i feel i have to explain why i gave this wonderful cd "only" four stars. Well, thats because i discoverd "andrew bird's bowl of fire" before i've discovered "hot town". Their album, "trills' is kind of above all ratings so i cannot get myself to rating this album as high as theirs. If you like this album, you're gonna adore "thrills".

This is the best one:
Great group - if you are only going to buy one album this is the one.

Magnificent music, toe tapping, joyous and beautiful!:
I have only recently discovered Western Swing, what I've been missing! I come from the UK, and we only hear the commercial country over here - I have only just heard hank Williams Senior and I am 36! Tall Tales is the finest CD I have bought for many a year, fresh, hot, uplifting and boy does it swing - put on your dancing shoes mumma there's going to be a ball in cowtown. Do yourselves a favour, buy it... when I play it I get a warm, happy glow.

HC rocks my world!:
This CD is awesome! It's by the nicest and best group ever! They were just in my town and I performed with them and they are the coolest! They need to keep turning out spectacular CDs like they already have! HC rocks!

Fun playing, but hold the vocals:
Bold, joyous playing, at times precise, at times reckless, make this a treat to listen to. But be prepared for some weak vocals (by two of the three band members). Lovers of old country are not sticklers for staying on key, and know there's a great deal of expressive power in the deliberate roughness of Bill Monroe. Vern Williams and others. But crooning that goes flat provokes more wincing than dancing. Still--a talented and fun group gets my qualified yeehaw.

• Draggin' the Bow
• Emily
• Darling You and I Are Through
• I Can't Tame Wild Women
• When I Lost You
• You Can't Take It with You
• Wild Cat
• Always and Always
• I Laugh When I Think How I Cried Over You
• Joe Bob Rag
• There'll Be Some Changes Made
• Red Hot Mama
• Bonaparte's Retreat
• Polka Dots and Moonbeams
• Sally Goodin'