Liege And Lief

I get that this was probably supposed to be a reimagining of some classic folk songs, but the electric guitars and drum kit kind of took me out of it. Or maybe I like this better than if it was just some hobbit bouncing his thumbs off a bongo.

Yeah, I’m good on Celtic Druid rock from here on out.

fofinho

Went back and forth from liking a track, and then not liking the next one. Real mixed bag.

I liked this record a smidge more that Unhalfbricking, which I previously reviewed. Sounds like the group is finding their 'thing' here, that being British Folk Rock. They rely heavily on the often tragic and emotional olde style celtic/brit folk traditions including songs of maidens, lords and forest fantasy. Swirling this with a late 60's rock vibe and original songs in the same tradition, the group is locked in instrumentally, with the result being cohesive.

평범한 느낌의 앨범이었다. It was an album that felt rather ordinary.

British 60s folk music based off historical hymns and ancient Celtic folk tunes. Interesting idea I guess, but hard to get into and rather samey. Matty Groves gets a little jammy, and crazy man Michael does the same, but overall this isn’t for me. ⭐️⭐️

Surprisingly enjoyed this quite a bit. Reminded me of something but actually just quite pleasant

Genuinely don’t know what to make of this trend. It’s folk rock, not folk nor some orchestral/chamber, there are drums and electric guitars here, but the material is drawn almost entirely from traditional hymns from around the Isles. What levity is present comes from the melodies, not any ramshackle or slapdash performance that might come off as endearing or fun. They are very serious. This is concurrent with the swinging 60s though! There were some personal tragedies in the band and relations, but this approach predated that and the members largely went their separate ways after completing this set of traditional interpretations. It does in fact rock at some points, but the melodies only allow for so much and I tapped out with the instrumental medley.

British Folk Rock: #1 Matty Groves #2 The Deserter #3 Crazy Man Michael

Honestly fire. Scooby doo mansion ass music

Legendary British folk band still featuring Richard Thompson, who would soon find fame as a solo artist and with his wife Linda. I had to look up what the title means, and it turns out it comes from two archaic Middle English words chosen by the band to evoke a medieval, Old English feeling, meaning "Loyal and Ready". The album has some really beautiful folk arrangements with great guitar contributions from Richard Thompson. In fact, the guitar work in "Tam Lin" strongly reminds me of the current Dutch indie folk-rock band Elephant, while singer Sandy Denny's voice frequently brings to mind Jerney Kaagman from Earth and Fire. But some parts are really outdated and a bit too traditional for my taste (e.g., "Medley: The Lark in the Morning"). The final song is really a drag to listen to completely, and you definitely have to be in the mood as it is really long and slow. Overall it is somewhat a mixed bag, making it difficult to decide between a 3 or a 4

Meh it's average folk

Who the heck is Matty Groves Rating 8/10

Not too bad, sounds like folk from the 60s for sure.

Felt like sitting by the creek after dark and telling folk tales, very comforting.

British Jefferson Airplane seems absolutely on point to me

Love folk music, but find this pretty milquetoast. In 1969 would have loved loved it, but even then it's so far behind what Dylan was doing, or what we were seeing out of other singer songwriters of the time.

While there are some songs that I really liked, I couldn't help myself but to skip some others. In the end I completely understand why some people would love this record, great album

Vibe Joni Mitchell, sympa

Un peu répétitif

This was fine, a little boring. English countryside music

Pleasant but kinda boring after a while. Some songs were better than others (duh). But overall I rate this album as OK!

At least one song on this album was good enough to be in the Titanic Irish jig scene

The 70s had to be a great time to be into folk music

Made me feel like I was a corporate lawyer stuck in the Shire, yearning for the buzz of the inner city. I'm sure this is delightful to other people.

(Solid 7/10) Pretty good! I didn't realize Richard Thompson was on this, so naturally the guitar playing is really good. The Fiddle that's utilized here is also really good as well. I think what holds me back overall is that sometimes the traditional folk tunes aren't as interesting to me as the actual arrangements are, but even still I had a good time with this one.

I appreciate the talent on display and can respect the project, but it is simply not for me.

Kinda forgot about this record.. matty groves has been in my rotation for 20+ years. The sincerity of this record is really compelling.

I can appreciate what they were doing, but most of this was just ok to me. Talented musicians but I wasn’t thrilled by the singer. I liked the instrumental medley the best.

Almost a 4

I've never been a fan of folk rock, but this project is starting to make me actively loathe it. I don't even care anymore if this is one of the better examples, I've just had too much of it.

This started out great but after a while I realised I was bored. Not bad, just a little too one note for me.

"Treasure Planet" 's ending The Album®

No one song stood out to me, but I enjoyed the overall feeling of the album.

I’m not always fully on board with folk rock. I could have done without the guitar solo on Matty G but there’s enough wonderful stuff here, and the cheese trap is well enough swerved, to merit the top score.

Everything came together for the band on this one. They consciously stripped away US roots music influences to created a British version of folk rock. Helped by Sandy Denny’s voice being so beautiful. Favourite song: Farewell Farewell

I was surprised and enjoyed this album. I enjoyed the singers voice. It was one of the better folk albums I have listened to on the list.

Very folky - easy listening, but I actually really enjoyed it

Perfectly pleasant folk album, nothing more really to it. Fairport Convention I think are just really good at making this type of music, completely inoffensive and perfect to have on in the background. It has just enough traditional folk aura to be interesting enough to keep listening to, although I do think it does lack substance a bit.

Fantastic album. The instruments and songs do shine on this record.

some nice tracks in here but just not my thing overall

If I am out and about and live music of any genre was playing I’d stop, listen and enjoy the musicianship and the difference it makes to the ambience of a setting. Folk music just isn’t a genre I enjoy listening to outside of a live environment. The talent and skill is obvious in this record but it just didn’t stir anything in me.

1969 british folk, sounds like sheryl crow Come all ye Matty groves

solid

meh

Medley was kinda going off, I don't imagine I'll remember this album since I already forgot their other one Will I listen to again: 3%

It's good. I feel like it's anachronistic to the American folk style of years before? I also feel like it's very influential to guitar rock of the 70's? Really dry in a lot of instances but when it gets a groove it's good.

"This shit belongs in the background in a Wes Anderson movie" some fucker said that like it's a bad thing. His soundtracks are the best part of his movies! Like Wes Anderson, this album isn't my very favourite, but I liked it a lot.

Normal

++: Come All Ye, Matty Groves, Medley +: Reynardine, Farewell, Farewell, The Deserter, Tam Lin, Crazy Man Michael 7,7/10

I loved it. I listened all day

This is more what I expected from Fairport Convention. Which is to say, Unhalfbricking really surprised me for the better. This, on the other hand, feels more like a Ren Faire. It's not bad. Denny still sounds sweet and the music is still competent. You'd enjoy hearing this. But I find myself remarking less on this. It feels more anchored in those generic plaints of the medieval than weaving it into the modern. It just doesn't feel like the other, and its uniqueness lies more in the fact that most people aren't going full minstrel music. It doesn't deserve lower than ⭐️⭐️⭐️, but it also doesn't really rise above. Shame. I was hoping to be happily surprised by these guys twice.

I had heard of them but I don't think I've ever heard any of the music. A very nice 1960's vintage folk album. Would fit right in a playlist with The Byrds, etc. A good start to my morning.

Fairport Convention gehörte zu den britischen Bands, die dem Folk Rock erst ihre Form gaben, und „Liege & Lief" entstand im Herbst 1969 im Sound Techniques Studio in London, veröffentlicht bei Island Records. Ich finde es bemerkenswert, unter welchen Umständen das Album zustande kam: Nach dem Verkehrsunfall im Mai 1969, der Schlagzeuger Martin Lamble das Leben kostete, zog sich die Band zurück und begann, alte englische Balladen systematisch zu sichten – nicht aus Verlegenheit, sondern als bewusste Neuausrichtung. „Matty Groves" ist dafür das beste Beispiel: acht Minuten, in denen eine jahrhundertealte Mordballade zur Rockband-Nummer wird, ohne ihre Herkunft zu verleugnen. Sandy Dennys Stimme trägt viel von der Spannung des Albums, gerade weil sie nie forciert klingt. Bei „Tam Lin" hätte ich mir noch mehr Kante gewünscht, aber Swarbricks Geige und Thompsons Gitarre halten das Stück zusammen, auch wenn Joe Boyds Produktion insgesamt eher zurückhaltend, fast gedämpft wirkt – ein bewusster Kontrast zu den treibenden Rhythmen. Ob man „Liege & Lief" tatsächlich als Gründungsalbum des britischen Folk Rock bezeichnen sollte, wird bis heute diskutiert. Für mich zählt eher, wie unaufgeregt hier Tradition und Band-Sound zusammenfinden. Ein Album, das nichts beweisen muss und gerade deshalb überzeugt.

Ugh folk. Saved by the voice of Sandy Denny which has tones of Kirsty

Own it. (CD) - Okay - I did not own this until today. I literally went to the Record Exchange and found a used copy for $4 after listening to it. I wasn't aware of this album prior to it popping up in this project. Well, that's not entirely true, I'd heard of this group as a reference point, but that's about it. To say that my mind was blown may be overkill, but as I listened through each track, it was like pieces of a much larger puzzle were falling into place. Not only are these tracks gorgeously presented, they mix the traditional sounds of British Isles folk tunes with drums and electric guitar in a way that American folk rock groups never did to that point. It highlights just how much American bluegrass and folk traditions owe to this British heritage. Further, "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp" and "Gallows Pole" from LZ III and much of Nick Drake's output make much more sense in light of this album. I love the traditional instruments, mixed meters, and modes throughout - particularly in tracks like "Tam Lin" where stories unfold in ways that clearly paved the way for country artists like Marty Robbins to emerge as great story-tellers. There are few albums that look backward and forward with the same effect of Liege and Lief. One of my biggest issues with the American Psychedelic movement of the late 60s is that everything turned into a jam and the structure of that jam was aimed directly at the acid trippers. I was afraid at several points during this listen that the jam would go off on these rails and become the incessant generic noodling of Big Brother, Jefferson Airplane, or the Grateful Dead. But it didn't and the result makes me want to listen again and again. 5 Stars.

I was at a Richard Thompson show and he talked about his time with Fairport Convention. That was the first I'd heard of this band. I should have check them out sooner since this music is my jam, all day. Absolutely beautiful.

British folk country.

Wow, loved it!

But no leaf?

Folk inglés, galés, escocés, gaélico? Suena a que muchas se inspiraron de aquí, o del mismo lugar al menos…me gusta el mood hippie pero no se mantiene.

Mycket stark trea, bland det bästa jag hört i en genre jag inte är ett superfan av

Lajv-musik.

Inte min grej.

Some more bri’ish folk is it then? Awright guv

#21 Fairpoint Convention - Liege and Leif Important caveat before I start, went to my first Ren Faire this weekend, my daughter loved it more than Disney and personally I had a delightful time eating a turkey leg, drinking mead and hanging out with all the local nerds. I needed to disclose this as it definitely influenced my enjoyment of this album. For a British folk album that focuses on medieval themes, it rocks way harder than it has any right to. The tone is set on the opening track as vocalist Sandy does a full band roll call (even the bass gets a line!) establishing that this band of “minstrels” is playing with purpose celebrating the communal experience of music. “The fiddler player loves to play, that’s why he plays so good” simple line that perfectly captures one of the essential qualities of great music. The rest of the album is doesn’t let up at all, god damn love Matty groves. Anyway I’ve said enough. 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Starts good but drops off a bit. Decent thought though.

A bit too folky

calminho, ótimo pra colocar num fim de dia enquanto cozinha alguma coisa. mas achei algumas músicas muito longas.

I dig it. I love the lead singer's voice. It has a timeless quality -- I wouldn't have been surprised to learn that this album was from the 2010s.

Fantastic and crazy long

Triple blind. Not really for me but I’m a weird way I understand where this album is coming from. Kind of a hybrid of Joni Mitchell, Crosby stills Nash, maybe some James Taylor.

American Folk meets Celtics folk. I feel like this a safe pick to put on when grandma comes over

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

easy rock, a little folky. a couple of songs are energetic enough to be on, but some are a little light, especially in the vocal range

First Listen Favorites: Matty Groves Medley: The Lark In The Morning Come All Ye

There's a lot of magic to this album, both in the literal content of the lyrics but also in the music itself. It's steeped in the Celtic traditions that serve as the very basis of British folk music, but it is also thoroughly modern in a way that complements and evolves that source. Vast amounts of music has been created since the release of this album trying to capture the same balance, and all of that owes something to this album. I grew up listening to similar music, and that makes me appreciate "Liege and Lief" all the more. Favorite tracks: "Matty Groves" and "Tam Lin"

This album is exactly as old as me, to the month. I'm not holding up that well either.

Very ethereal

Good record

ok

luitjes met fluitjes. O nee....

First time listening to Fairport Convention. I didn't know they had a female singer which is pretty cool. Sandy Denny has a lovely voice and her presence does make this album a tad more interesting than it would've been otherwise. Unfortunately I did find the record to be a bit repetitive and it's just not quite as good as other folk albums from this era. Still worth checking out. Favorite track: Tam Lin 3.5/5

Pleasant Renaissance Fair music.

Enjoyable Irish folk sound

Started very strong and then got super samey. The forward thinking hobbit music review is hilarious, very accurate. I think if it was just the first two tracks it’s a 5, after an hour that felt like three, finding it hard to give it a 4.

I found this surprisingly enjoyable for something that is so 60s folky

This album feels like it was way ahead of its time. It could have been made in the last 10 years. It didn't connect with me but overall I appreciate it.

I expected to hate this. So was pleasantly surprised by how catchy and light ‘Come All Ye’ is as an opener. It verges on being a bit too long, but just about gets away with it. The pleasant floatiness continues, but it does get a bit too hippy folky for my liking at times. The intro to ‘The Deserter’ got my hopes up thst this track was gonna offer something different but it didn’t. ‘Medley: Lark in the Morning’ is a bit too much of a folky village dance for me, although I did like the slightly rockier but at the end. ‘Tam lin’ does actually offer something slightly different but the album quickly snaps back to its established sound on the subsequent tracks. Overall this is a 2.5/5 but as it is a bit too (old English) folky, I’m afraid it’s a round down rather than up

Sandy Denny had a truly beautiful voice, and Richard Thompson remains a great guitarist. Technical ability aside, folk isn’t really my thing; it was perfectly acceptable to listen to, but not a thing I actively enjoyed or necessarily liked all that much. It was also just far too long.

My parents love/loved Fairport Convention. I saw them live as a kid multiple times (my Mum still goes to see the current incarnation whenever they come to town - a knee replacement is potentially getting in the way of October's gig). One of my first ever crushes was on multi instrumentalist, Maart, a man who proclaimed that all stringed instruments were basically the same and was therefore pretty accomplished at all of them. I am not old enough to have seen the Sandy Denny years of Fairport, but I was told from a young age that she was one of the best vocalist of her generation by my Mum, who adores her. All of which makes it impossible for me to be truly unbiased about this album. That being said, I really enjoyed this, and have always specifically loved the medley of traditional jigs and reels (with The Lark In The Morning (the first part) and Toss The Feathers (the last part) being my favourites). Of the tracks with lyrics, I appreciate this version of Matty Groves as I find Sandy Denny's voice really draws me into the story. I also really like Come All Ye and The Deserter. Happily an album I could listen to from start to finish and then go right back to the start again, my only real low point is Reynardine, which I am not a fan of. Overall though: 4/5

Pleasant

Not bad enough for a 2

This was good! It got a little old at times, but this wasn't bad. The vocals are the strong part here. So much fun and so talented. Liked Songs: "Come All Ye" , "Matty Groves" , "The Deserter" , "Medley: The Lark In The Morning" , "Tam Lin" , "Crazy Man Michael"

Very very smooth and mellow

WOW!

Too calm, I wouldn’t relisten

This was another great surprise from the list. I've long knew of Richard Thompson from reading guitar magazines and publications throughout my life but never listened to the Fairport Convention. Guess I was saving it for a treat as I started a long drive on a summer evening from my parents place in upper Michigan heading back to Detroit area. Truly was a treat, fun, uplifting, engaging, musically interesting. Love it

This was great. Really nice folky music. I would definitely listen more.