The best and the worst
Ian J. Davis | Waterloo, Ontario | 07/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Ringing Down the Years" is a stellar album. Harking back to the Strawbs roots in folk music, it is like a rich red wine, matured with age. The underlying theme here is about life, death, joy, sorrow, loves, losses and the stark reality of it all. It boasts incredibly rich orchestral melodies, harmonies, themes, and lyrics, that collectively soar. This album is unlike any other Strawbs album. The first time I listened to this CD, I simply couldn't believe how good it sounded, and still couldn't after playing little else in the weeks that followed. "Don't say goodbye" which accompanies Ringing Down the Years is by comparison im my opinion the Strawbs worst CD. It lacks energy, wanders, and could kindly be described as somewhat nondescript. Putting it back to back with "Ringing down the years" was positively cruel. I'd happily own anything by the Strawbs, but the harsh reality is that this is the one CD by them that I almost never play.. it is as a collection of songs, and can't seem to rise above the reality of being just that. Somehow the chemistry to make it more than this simply isn't there."
80's Strawbs
M. R. Warren | Kalamazoo, Michigan United States | 11/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"People complain about the production, but that is the production of the 80's. David Cousins still writes great songs, and this is still pretty much the original STRAWBS! Highly recommended!"
Both good albums in their own ways
08/16/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Neither of these albums are as good as the Strawb's Seventies output, but each has several tunes and characteristics to recommend it. Chief among these is Brian Willoughby, probably the best guitarist the band ever had. His leads soar and lift every song. Also, Dave Cousins'voice has, if anything, gotten better with age; there's a softer edge which makes songs such as the title cut from RINGING DOWN THE YEARS truly moving (it's a tribute to former Strawb/Fairport Convention songstress Sandy Denny). The main flaw is one which ruined a lot of "progressive" bands in the Eighties; bland techno arrangements that sound radio-ready and samey. It's a testament to the band that this doesn't sink most of the material, but both of these albums would've been better without that quality."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1