Search - Rankins :: Uprooted

Awesome Canadian Gaelic Sounds

shoutgrace | Charleston, WV United States | 08/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This large family of musicians hail from the east coast of Mabou, Cape Breton Island, Inverness Co., Nova Scotia. They have topped Canadian music charts with their unique Celtic-influence sound. Their idea was to keep Celtic tradition alive in their music. What started out as a hobby The Rankin siblings decision to do more. They recorded their first album and they drove across Nova Scotia to businesses where they began to sell their self-titled debut. The album "Uprooted" (dedicated to their mother, Kathleen who died of breast cancer in 1997) is a blend of Irish, ancestral Scottish, Celtic and contemporary songs. It has electic zest, vitality and vigor heard from any Canadian Celtic band with a gamut of human emotions combining ethereal harmonies with pop grooves. The song 'Movin' On' is a drifter kind of sound with images of life on the road. The 'Parlour Medley' is an lively Irish jig. 'Weddings, Wakes and Funerals' has funky street beats and poetic spoken word from the dance hall themes. 'Long Way to Go' is packed with jam session attitude. The 'Farewell to Lochaber' is a tribute to their ancestral Scottish roots. The Gaelic, 'An Innis Àigh' (The Happy Isle) combines versatility of the ancient language and modern folk tradition. The whole album has a gritty and an edgy invocation. There's lots of fabulous piano, organ and fiddle arrangements in this album. The album was produced by three time Grammy winner George Massenburg having worked with James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat and Earth, Wind & Fire. It was recorded in Nashville and Nova Scotia. One can't go wrong with the quality of this album.
Once you try this album you may want to try out their other fruits of labor.
"Fare Thee Well Love"
"North Country" (Canadian Release)
"North Country" (American Release)
"Grey Dusk of Eve" (Canadian Release)
"Endless Seasons"
"Collection"
"Do You Hear...Christmas with Heather, Cookie and Raylene Rankin"
"Song Dog" (Jimmy Rankin)
Unforunately The Rankins have lost a gifted family member, John Morris Rankin who was killed in a tragic car accident in January 2000. This tragedy hasn't left the group undaunted. They continue to work onward to their goals in keeping the Celtic dream alive. If you're a Celtic music fan and like a Celtic and pop blend give them a try. This group shouldn't be passed up. A closer to fine recommendation for sure!"

A fitting farewell to the progressive roots group

Supernova | Canada | 07/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Somewhere along the way of the Rankins' 10 year journey, they discovered that artistic integrity and musicial experimentation were far more valuable than all of the platinum records they were given. This is a superb recording, venturing deep into roots/folk rock. Wrongly labelled as a new-country CD with the release of the first single "Movin' On", they were never really given a chance to prove otherwise. "Let It Go" is an exceptionally well-crafted roots song. "Long Way To Go" rocks. The traditional numbers, as always, are rock solid. The Rankins never were and never will be remembered as a traditional band who played country music just for kicks. They incorporated their roots sound into a variety of styles more successfully than any other group. Fittingly, this final recording is their most progressive. Every song oozes that rich earthy roots sound. Every group should be as adventurous as they were - it's a lot more interesting than doing the same sound over and over again. Uniquely Canadian, they will be missed."