Underneath the Stars

Underneath the Stars has become one my very favorite "go to" albums. It is equal parts humorous, heart moving as well as heart aching. One cannot help but be drawn into both the music and lyrics by Kate's evocative voice and brilliant musical arrangements. She's breathed new life into so many nearly forgotten folk songs and the listener is truly blessed to experience it. There are not kudos enough for this amazing artist.

Kate’s music initially grabbed my attention because she seemed to keep true to the feeling of folk music while adding her own unique touch, personality, and modernity to each song. I found this to be accurate as I listened to more and more of her music and I feel like I have discovered a beautiful, secret gem of the music industry. Her voice is soft and pure but still so full of life and individuality, as I cannot think of another artist that sounds just like her. There is something raw and unguarded about the way she sings her songs which makes them all the more irresistible and loveable. The accompanying music is the right balance for the lyrics; it is simple and lyrical and it doesn’t overshadow her timeless voice. Her intimate touch of arranging the traditional English, Irish, and Scottish songs made me feel as if there were no other way they could or should be performed, even though I had heard a couple of them before by different artists. The song “Let Me Be” from this album is one of the folk songs I have previously heard. This and the other arrangement are great adaptations of this traditional tune, but her voice adds a richness and depth to the melody and sound that is lacking in the other arrangement that I know. She has a lilt to her voice that not only gives her uniqueness but helps her arrangements sound truly folk-like. The song “Polly” from this album is one of my favorites because it sounds very traditional with the aid of the fiddle and the syncopated rhythms that feel nostalgic of how this song would have originally been performed. Her English accent also comes out strongly in this song which helps to compliment the sorrowful lyrics and emotions that are often present in folk music. It is impossible to become disinterested while listening to this album or any of her others because she adds her own personal flair to the vocals and includes a variety of instruments that keep her music sounding fresh. She not only sings beautifully and writes some of her own songs, but she plays the guitar in her recordings on this album tastefully and flawlessly. I love to be relaxed as I listen to music, and she accomplishes this exactly as I could hope for. There is nothing harsh or hard about her lyrics or music and it invites me to come back to these particular songs first every time I open up my music player. Kate is one of those rare, sought-for artists with true talent easily audible in every recording. I would highly recommend this album for first-timers to folk music or to those who already love and appreciate the genre.

Four years ago in a souvenir shop in Scotland, I put on a pair of headphones and heard Kate Rusby for the first time, singing "Underneath the Stars." She has provided the soundtrack of my life ever since. Her voice and music are one of the most pleasant blends of sound imaginable; it is therapy for the soul to sit, listen, and allow Kate's haunting melodies to remind you that life is sweetest in simplicity. I own no other albums to which I am able to listen over and over and over again, but I could literally listen to the music of Kate Rusby exclusively, for the rest of my life. It is that good, and yes, I am serious.

While I admit, the other reviews on this album perfectly describe how wonderful this album is, I just couldn't resist putting in my two cents. =) Kate Rusby, though baby-faced and soft-spoken, has an uncanny ability to portray deep emotion with a mature, wise demeanor in songs that while simple, are incredibly elegant and beautiful. The songs are not frilly or overly fancy, and, though some are serious, they never take themselves too seriously. I have honestly never heard a single Kate Rusby song that I didn't like. She chooses only those songs of the best quality for her albums. Her voice is light and sweet, and her music is beautiful with clever lyrics, my favorite line being "I wonder if the stars regret me, I'm sure they'd like me if they only met me." Any of her albums are a must for fans of traditional music.

I bought three (yes, three) Kate Rusby CD's yesterday and I have been playing them non-stop for the last 24 hours. Impossible to pick a favorite yet, but this particular CD is a revelation. Her lyrics tap into some of the most personal places in all of us -- and we SO enjoy the effect. I am completely beguiled and haunted by the music. What a treat that there are so much of her music to enjoy especially if you are a new fan, like me.

Ms. Rusby sings with an effortless style and beautiful phrasing. Her accent is charming singing with strings or soaring over horns as in "Underneath the Stars". A lesser talent might seem cloying, with phrasing so colloquial. Never Ms. Rusby. She pulls it off with a breathy elegance that makes one yearn for the shores of Avalon. Highly recommended.