THE UNTHANKS

Last

2011-05-11

The Unthanks is a family affair featuring Rachel and Becky Unthank (their real last name) on vocals and Rachel’s husband Adrian McNally on vocals, piano and drums. Chris Price and Niopha Keegan fill out the rest of this Northumberland, UK band.

The Unthanks broke out to critical claim with their album The Bairns in 2007, earning them a Mercury prize nomination.

Comprised mostly of cover songs and reinterpretations of old British folk tunes, the songs carry with them the weight of history and their influences including a great cover of a Tom Waits song off of Alice called “No One Knows I’m gone” (track 6).

Recommended tracks: Queen of Hearts (3), Last (4), Starless (9)

Reviewed by Devon Cunningham

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 06/2006

    JEREMIAH LOCKWOOD
    American Primitive

  • reviewed 07/2006

    Guy Clark
    Workbench Songs

  • reviewed 03/2007

    Martin Sexton
    Seeds

  • reviewed 10/2006

    DAN BERN
    Breath

  • reviewed 05/2008

    Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
    Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass : Tribute to 1946 and 1947

  • reviewed 09/2012

    RICKY SKAGGS
    Music to My Ears

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.