Peggy Seeger
Heading for Home
| “Seeger . . . here always sounds comfortable, and the arrangements allow her to make the best of her voice. She sings confidently, carefully considering the lyrics, as a variety of acoustic instruments are plucked and strummed behind her. She leads off the set with the deceptively heartwarming title song, an original, which is actually about aging and the approach of death. That serves as a good jumping-off place for the rest of the disc, which contains traditional folk songs with their subject matter dominated by accounts of murder and abandonment. The subtext of such songs as "Oma Wise" and "John Riley" is feminism as far as the singer is concerned. The patience and fidelity of the women never ceases to astound me," she comments on the latter, a song about a man leaving home. That's a benevolent way of interpreting it, but it is typical of Seeger's generous viewpoint, which encompasses both the doom-laden aspects of folk music and its inherent sense of continuity and renewal.” – William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide |
“Whether murder ballads, songs of love, or songs of loss, Seeger sings with a voice that defies her 68 years. She communicates a deep understanding of the songs she sings, as well as the traditions that give rise to them. Instrumentation is sparse throughout the recording – highlighting, rather than weighing down – the entire collection.”
– Dirty Linen |
“Heading for Home finds the 67-year-old daughter of the first family of Anglo-American folk music rediscovering various moments from her musical past. From its setting in an 18th-century British cottage to the largely familial backing band, Home speaks as loudly to Seeger’s admiration for the ethos of this material as it does her compassion for performing it. . . . Seeger’s richly evocative and deeply authentic presence – whether it’s the gorgeously resonant autoharp of ‘Girl of Constant Sorrow’ or the claw-hammer-banjo-driven ‘Country Blues’ – grants her gravitas enough to makes her performances indisputably believable. . . .Seeger appears as emotionally connected to the spirit of the music as those who lived the songs into existence, granting her the liberty to perform gender switches on many of the characters in her narratives, encouraging a more eclectic interpretation. . . .Heading for Home proves how a genuinely heartfelt performance can speak to the human soul where purist dogma falls short.”
– Paste |
“Yet another fine offering from this quality label that carefully selects their artists. . . .Hard to believe it is album number 20 for [this] musical icon – both an interpreter of traditional folk and a magical instrumentalist. . . .The album opens with a tune featuring Peggy on banjo, but follows with a plethora of songs reviving America’s past. . . .She is serious and her passion for tradition and the past make this album uniquely Seeger. . . Bottom line: another top-notch offering from the Appleseed folks.”
– Eden Daily News (syndicated) |
“Sit down in your favorite listening spot, get real comfy and have a listen to Peggy Seeger, the singing storyteller. Her songs sound like Appalachian folk music from long ago and a bit like Celtic-influenced bluegrass . . . To fully appreciate Seeger’s art you must listen closely, otherwise much will be missed as each song is a story filled with interesting characters and plot twists. . . .I find myself frequently going back to listen to these songs again and again like a favorite bedtime tale from my childhood. . . . Put this CD in and start heading for home with Peggy Seeger. You’ll be sure to enjoy the ride.”
– Rambles |
“Her brilliant and subtle musicianship and fine songwriting are strikingly highlighted. THE BEST ALBUM OF THE WEEK!!!!”
– John Shelton Ivany Top 21 (syndicated, Feb 5-12, 2004) |
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