[.ca] Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions

Chronique amazon.fr:
Il restait un album comme celui-ci à faire. Après les années 70 qui virent la rencontre de deux générations de musiciens de bluegrass autour du projet "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" du Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, l'idée est ici de réunir la musique traditionnelle irlandaise et celle qu'elle a engendré sur le continent nord-américain. Ainsi, cet album permet-il de comprendre comment ces gigues et ces ballades du pays celte allaient donner le jour à des sons que l'on appellera, selon l'époque et le genre, bluegrass (du nom donné aux collines du Kentucky, l'État de l'herbe "bleue") ou country. Certains instruments, comme le banjo ou la mandoline, se retrouvent (avec la guitare comme trait d'union) dans les deux musiques. Quant aux chansons, ce sont des airs traditionnels irlandais pour la plupart, à deux exceptions près, arrangés par Paddy Moloney le patriarche fondateur des Chieftains. Il est aussi l'instigateur de ce projet délicieux et a réussi à convaincre quelques-uns des noms les plus en vue de la musique country et bluegrass. Mais pas seulement, car à côté d'enfants naturels comme Alison Krauss ou Earl Scruggs, on se surprend à retrouver John Hiatt, Patty Griffin ou Lyle Lovett tout à fait à leur place dans cette entreprise où la musique ressort encore plus belle et plus fédératrice. Une réussite incontestable. --José Ruiz

From Amazon.com:
Now that bluegrass is (again) momentarily cool, leave it to the Chieftains to (again) plunge an all-star country cast into the Celtic wellsprings of old-time music, just as they did 10 years ago with 1992's Another Country. It's no surprise that the Chieftains can handle the rapacious rhythms of a hot fiddle tune; whether they can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Tim O'Brien, Béla Fleck, Ricky Skaggs, and Del McCoury is another matter. Rest assured they can, and they even coax some inspired jamming from Earl Scruggs--who sounds like he has something to prove on "Sally Goodin"--and a chilling vocal from Alison Krauss on "Molly Ban," the Celtic equivalent of "Fair and Tender Maidens." The Chieftains' only miscue comes in wasting Vince Gill's talents on a busily arranged "Dark as a Dungeon." While this set will likely appeal more to fans of contemporary Irish music than to hard-core twang fans, anyone who loves acoustic roots music will find these collaborations refreshing, if not down-right bracing. --Roy Kasten

Where Celtic meets country...again!:
Another all-star country-Celtic guest-fest, exploring once again the centuries-old links between Irish folk and American country and bluegrass music. Along for the ride are Top 40 acts such as Vince Gill and Martina McBride, along with bluegrassers Alison Krauss, Del McCoury and Earl Scruggs, as well as alt-ier types like Lyle Lovett, Buddy & Julie Miller, and Gillian Welch, whose version of "Katie Dear" is one of the best tracks on here. In general, this album is a pleasant and interesting mix, if anything much stronger than 1992's like-minded "Another Country" album. This disc occasionally drifts a bit and seems to lack punch on a tune or two, (Lovett, in particular, seems uninspired, though I hardly think it's the Cheiftains fault...) but the good songs are certainly worth checking out, and this is a remarkably vigorous set by these illustrious old-timers. Recommended!

The Old Plank Road:
The Chieftains are in flying form on their latest album where the cream of the twin traditions of Irish Traditional and American Country Music come together for a Seisiun. The album opens with a swirl of the harp strings as the band launch into the title track with vocals from John Hiatt who describes the Chieftains as "the original rock gods". The guest artists come from both the new and the old traditions. They include Martina Mc Bride, Buddy Miller, Ricky Skaggs, Bela Fleck Jeff White, Vince Gill and many others. On this fourteen track disc there a few stand out songs including: "Molly Bawn" with Alison Krauss. "Cindy" with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. "Don't let your deal go down" by Lyle Lovett. Perhaps the best of all is a song that has been slaughtered in many a singing pub by a "musician" engaged in mortal combat with a drum machine. This is by Vince Gill one of the biggest stars in Nashville, he sings " Dark as a Dungeon". "Down the old Plank Road" is the Chieftains 40th album and a fitting tribute to Derek Bell their harpist who died recently. . He gave them their unique sound and added much of the humor to their style of playing. I am an a la carte Chieftains fan. I never considered them "rock gods" but I really enjoyed my fifty four minutes "Down the Old Plank Road".

Explosion of pure talent!:
If you never buy another Cd for your collection, you HAVE to buy this one. The best performances of the Chieftians and the great bluegrass stars that shine along with them. You HAVE to get the DVD to really see the excitement of the players, dancer, and musicians. I am ready for a DVD of "Down The Old Plank Road 2"

Excellent!!!:
I work in a music store and we've been playing this cd for a while now. I love it. The Chieftains are incredible. This is definitely a different cd from their others because it sounds more like bluegrass. The Alison Krauss song is beautiful. GET THIS CD.

Best of Nashville meets best of Ireland!:
I think that heading says it all! You simply cannot go wrong with the Chieftans, or any of these Nashville musicians.\o\c I think Vince Gill & the Chieftans do a fine job with "Dark as a Dungeon"...as Vince does a FINE job with EVERYTHING he sings & plays! Everyone else is in splendid form also. A must if you like any Bluegrass & Celtic music.