Etsi Shon (Grandfather Song)

Amazon.com
Robbie Robertson tried to fuse Native American and rock sounds a year or two ago, but like most appeasement, it turned out to be neither fish nor fowl, merely a disappointment. Jerry Alfred is a Tutchone, from the Yukon. And, by God, he's made a cracking album. The fusion of native and nonnative is what Robertson's should have been, voice and drum to the front, the rest adding color and ambiance, never hurried. This is a different world slowly showing itself. Songs like "Taan Mun," with its water sounds, wouldn't be out of place in a chill-out room. About the only time this doesn't work is when it gets folksy and loses a touch of its mystery. Still, these places are few and far between. If you don't believe there's still magic in the world, listen to this record and learn the truth. --Chris Nickson

Tracks:

Generation Hand Down
The Warrior Song
Caribou Stick Gambling Song
Taan Mun / Lake Laberge
The Grandfather Song / Etsi Shon
Mac Millan River Love Song
Beginner Gambling Song
The Watchmen
Salaw
A Love Song
Towhata Lake

Amazon.com

Robbie Robertson tried to fuse Native American and rock sounds a year or two ago, but like most appeasement, it turned out to be neither fish nor fowl, merely a disappointment. Jerry Alfred is a Tutchone, from the Yukon. And, by God, he's made a cracking album. The fusion of native and nonnative is what Robertson's should have been, voice and drum to the front, the rest adding color and ambiance, never hurried. This is a different world slowly showing itself. Songs like "Taan Mun," with its water sounds, wouldn't be out of place in a chill-out room. About the only time this doesn't work is when it gets folksy and loses a touch of its mystery. Still, these places are few and far between. If you don't believe there's still magic in the world, listen to this record and learn the truth. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

I lost it. Missed it so much. I had to buy a brand new one.......2002-12-01

Its great. I am an Alaskan native, I really connect to this cd in alot of ways. To me I can hear all the struggle in jerry's voice, all the defiance, and all the love for nature's mystery.
This albulm gives a brief glimps of mystery and freedom in an unfree world. A mystery and freedom that can never be captured or compromized.

Grandfather Song rocks.......2001-03-10

"Etsi Shon" would be a great sing-along album, if only the words could be understood (although the members of Jerry Alfred's nation may rightly say "your loss"). Alfred took the traditional songs and melodies of his Northern Tutchone nation (Canada) and set them to contemporary sounds. The result is a great collection of wistful, almost spiritual songs. My personal favorite is the title track, "Grandfather Song," which I find myself listening to over and over. Although I hardly agree with Amazon editorial reviewer Chris Nickson's pretentious panning of Robbie Robertson's efforts in recent years as "appeasement" and a "dissappointment" (his review itself is in fact a disappointing example of appeasement), he is certainly right in praising Alfred's "cracking" contemporary stylings of traditional Native American music.

Like Deep Forest, Mythos, or Oceania you'll enjoy this!.......2000-04-03

So what if you don't understand the language, sit back and listen to the mix of native songs with modern backup and the writer's narrative. You'll find yourself pulled into the telling of story. Find yourself on the shore, walking the forest, or soaring in the heavens. If you like Native American or first nation music this is a got to have CD. Salaw and Generation Hand Down are my favorite tracks.

...best contemporary vocals, First Nations CD around.......2000-03-16

Like sitting on the shore of a calm lake...and hearing the loons echo in the distance...hand drum, acadian echos, Native and English vocals. This is contemporary First Nation's music drawing on tradition and fusing it with the Canadian "now" at its best.

A "must have" for anyone who likes First Nations music.......1998-10-08

This is a wonderful album and a "must-have" for anyone who likes First Nations music. I especially like the fact that he sings in his own language, andI wish there was more of this type of recording available. My favourite track is The Grandfather Song.

Music Album:

Music Album