Bonny Light Horseman

Bonny Light Horseman - Bonny Light Horseman
Critic Score
Based on 12 reviews
2020 Ratings: #374 / 863
User Score
Based on 258 ratings
2020 Ratings: #336
Liked by 9 people
January 24, 2020 / Release Date
LP / Format
37d03d / Label
Folk / Genres
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
Exclaim!

For trad-folk fans who like to dig deep, this record is a perfect launching point — there are endless avenues of history to be found here.

86
Paste

Mitchell, Johnson and Kaufman zeroed in on their goal: to give ancient songs a contemporary twist, and to surround the timeless feelings expressed in those songs with drop-dead gorgeous string and vocal arrangements.

80
American Songwriter
This is classic folk that shimmers with a vitality and determination so hypnotic and cohesive, it seems like they wrote these selections themselves.
80
musicOMH

For folk fans especially, there’s a rich vein of history mined on Bonny Light Horseman that makes for rewarding listening. Some songs, after all, are just timeless.

80
Spectrum Culture

Bonny Light Horseman excels in its simplicity, camaraderie and passion. The record is coolly grandiose and splendid, but never pompous.

78
Pitchfork

Mitchell, Kaufman, and Johnson have rarely sounded better than they do together, locked inside these scenes with the intimacy of siblings.

70
No Ripcord

Hard to call this a debut in the hands of such accomplished musicians, but the sublime far outweighs the average here and gives hope for further chapters.

70
PopMatters

Indie-folk supergroup Bonny Light Horseman find ways to turn a collective vision into a singular sound with their reworkings of traditional songs.

60
AllMusic

Bonny Light Horseman resembles a somewhat above-average indie folk effort, not at all bad but not of lasting impact. Maybe they should have messed with this stuff a bit more.

60
Sputnikmusic

There’s nothing super about adhering to the virtues of pop – and in turn, Bonny Light Horseman is a marginally decent record; nothing more.

smallpeeble
89

i fell asleep while listening to this album last night and right now this is my second time listening. i don't have any regrets. this album isso beautiful. thank you @EdFruscley for suggesting me this album to listen. tbh i badly need a break from the current events right now, it overwhelms me tbh. :( i thank for 37 minutes of peace that the album gave me.

musicmagpie55
71

Anais Mitchell, the creator of the incredible concept album Hadestown, returns with a supergroup to tackle some warm folk classics. She is joined by Eric Johnson and Josh Kaufman that help deliver tight harmonies and lush guitar melodies. Mitchell is a master storyteller. Even though these are classic folk songs, Mitchell and Co. transform the music into a collection of fresh Appalachian narratives. I could have used something with a little more gravity, but these are beautifully performed and ... read more

HoodieBraden
70

Supergroup "Bonny Light Horseman" is a collaborative folk group that intricately rewrites and performs traditional folk songs; some dating back hundreds of years. The influences are strong, however, the band is still able to add a contemporary touch, making for a dynamic blend of modern and dated songs. Some songs were derived from English Isles folk, while some were recently written by the trio as original compositions. The group consists of three decorated musicians: Anaïs ... read more

Phoenix
NR

It's honestly hard to criticize this band after being blown away by their live performance in Copenhagen and discovering that the studio version of the songs they performed from this album are as fantastic.

FAVORITE TRACKS: DEEP IN LOVE, JANE JANE, BLACKWATERSIDE, MAGPIE'S NEST, BRIGHT MORNING STARS.

unknownpleasure
75

First four songs are great

joshhendrickson
NR

There’s a warmth and serenity to Bonny Light Horseman that is unlike anything else heard recently. The supergroup’s self-titled debut album compiles traditional English folksongs and original works and showcases two of the most unique voices in music right now - Anaïs Mitchell and Eric D. Johnson. Simple and intimate, the lush acoustics and floating melodies of songs like “Deep In Love” and “10,000 Miles” will make me smile every time I hear them and ... read more

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Added on: January 22, 2020