Sometimes I crave the sound of acoustic instruments and natural voices; it's a thirst for a heart rooted deeply in human life. It's a place far from electric guitars and synthesized voices, a place where three young ladies play a unique style of Americana bluegrass. The Be Good Tanyas have been my source of quenching relief since their first album was released in 2000.
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| L-R: Sam Parton, Trish Klein, and Frazey Ford |
They play acoustic instruments (typically banjo, mandolin, and guitar) and sing with incredible harmonies. Each of the trio's voices are distinctly their own yet fit perfectly together, with Frazey and Parton providing most of the lead vocals. Frazey has a strong, trumpet-like voice, very calm and emotional. Sam, in contrast, has a whispery, delicate sound that adds the tortured heart to each track. Klein, for the most part, remains quiet as the band's multi-instrumentalist and periodically adding harmonies. Klein's "voice" is in her playing.
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| L-R: Trish Klein, Frazey Ford, and Samantha Parton |
To date, they've release three studio albums: "Blue Horse" (2000), "Hello Love" (2003), and "Chinatown" (2006). Each album has the band's distinct sound with little experimentation. And yet each one progressively shows signs of stronger songwriting. A band well into their sound from their debut, it's surprising how much better the music gets with each release.
Suggested Tracks for "Blue Horse"
"Broken Telephone"
"The Coo Coo Bird"
"Dogsong (AKA Sleep Dog Lullaby)"
"The Littlest Birds"
Suggested Tracks for "Hello Love"
"Out Of The Wilderness"
"Human Thing"
"A Thousand Tiny Pieces"
"For The Turnstiles"
Suggested Tracks for "Chinatown"
"Waiting Around To Die"
"Rowdy Blues"
"I Wish My Baby Was Born"
"Horses"
The Be Good Tanyas have also established themselves as a band with incredible ear for covering traditional music as well as music from artists from genres both similar and opposite. Closer to their style, they've covered Townes Van Zandt ("Waiting Around To Die"), Peter Rowan ("Midnight Moonlight"), and Geoff Berner ("Light Enough To Travel"). They've also covered Prince's song "When Doves Cry", giving the tone a much different flavor.
The band had gone on hiatus back in 2008 during which Frazey Ford released her solo album "Obadiah". The album is very similar to The Be Good Tanyas with the addition of electric guitar and a hint of attitude. It's a solid record from a solid artist.
Suggested Tracks for "Blue Horse"
"Broken Telephone"
"The Coo Coo Bird"
"Dogsong (AKA Sleep Dog Lullaby)"
"The Littlest Birds"
Suggested Tracks for "Hello Love"
"Out Of The Wilderness"
"Human Thing"
"A Thousand Tiny Pieces"
"For The Turnstiles"
Suggested Tracks for "Chinatown"
"Waiting Around To Die"
"Rowdy Blues"
"I Wish My Baby Was Born"
"Horses"
The Be Good Tanyas have also established themselves as a band with incredible ear for covering traditional music as well as music from artists from genres both similar and opposite. Closer to their style, they've covered Townes Van Zandt ("Waiting Around To Die"), Peter Rowan ("Midnight Moonlight"), and Geoff Berner ("Light Enough To Travel"). They've also covered Prince's song "When Doves Cry", giving the tone a much different flavor.
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| Album Covers |
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| Album cover for "Obadiah" by Frazey Ford |
It has been established that music can transcend you to another place and time; The Be Good Tanyas takes you to a quieter place in a sweeter time. In a time when a trio like this seem almost unfit, it's nice to know that they found a place to make their own. And because of their style of music, they couldn't be more vital.
For more information on The Be Good Tanyas, visit their official site: www.begoodtanyas.com
TRIVIA: Trish Klein collaborated with Alison Russell under the band name Po' Girl, a project that as of 2007 has resulted in three albums: "Po'girl," "Vagabond Lullabies," and "Home to You."
TRIVIA: Trish Klein collaborated with Alison Russell under the band name Po' Girl, a project that as of 2007 has resulted in three albums: "Po'girl," "Vagabond Lullabies," and "Home to You."
