Rare Bird Alert

( 4 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Rick Anderson
From the earliest days of his comedy career, Steve Martin has incorporated the banjo into various aspects of his act, and fellow banjo players have spoken with reverence of his skills for decades. But in recent years he has put a renewed focus on the instrument, and he won a Grammy for his album The Crow in 2010. Rare Bird Alert came along a year later, and it's a full-fledged country/bluegrass album consisting entirely of Martin originals and recorded in collaboration with the Steep Canyon Rangers. Some of the songs are comedic: the hilarious faux-gospel harmony number "Atheists Don't Have No Songs" is an album highlight despite its lack of an interesting melody, and ...
See more details below
CD (Digi-Pak)
$12.29
BN.com price
(Save 18%)$14.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (15) from $9.77   
  • New (14) from $9.77   
  • Used (1) from $0.00   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Rick Anderson
From the earliest days of his comedy career, Steve Martin has incorporated the banjo into various aspects of his act, and fellow banjo players have spoken with reverence of his skills for decades. But in recent years he has put a renewed focus on the instrument, and he won a Grammy for his album The Crow in 2010. Rare Bird Alert came along a year later, and it's a full-fledged country/bluegrass album consisting entirely of Martin originals and recorded in collaboration with the Steep Canyon Rangers. Some of the songs are comedic: the hilarious faux-gospel harmony number "Atheists Don't Have No Songs" is an album highlight despite its lack of an interesting melody, and "Women Like to Slow Dance" is both a wry reflection on gender differences and a straight-up bluegrass barnburner. "Jubilation Day" is one of the funnier kiss-off songs ever recorded ("Let's always remember the good times/Like when you were out of town"), and there's even a surprisingly straight version of Martin's breakout novelty hit from the 1970s, "King Tut." But other tracks are sweet and tender, such as the wonderful "You" (written for Martin's wife) and the elegantly lovely "The Great Remember." And there are several songs on which elegance, energy, and boundary-pushing creativity coexist joyfully -- notably the gorgeous "More Bad Weather on the Way" (on which Martin plays very expert clawhammer banjo) and the brilliant instrumental "Northern Island," which features a startlingly complex chord progression for a bluegrass number. Whether your primary interest is in the comedy or the music, this is a solidly enjoyable album.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/15/2011
  • Label: Rounder / Umgd
  • UPC: 011661066021
  • Catalog Number: 610660
  • Sales rank: 87

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Rare Bird Alert - Steve Martin (2:39)
  2. 2 Yellow-Backed Fly - Steve Martin (3:21)
  3. 3 Best Love - Steve Martin (4:21)
  4. 4 Northern Island - Steve Martin (2:39)
  5. 5 Go Away, Stop, Turn Around, Come Back - Steve Martin (3:35)
  6. 6 Jubilation Day - Steve Martin (3:12)
  7. 7 More Bad Weather On the Way - Steve Martin (3:31)
  8. 8 You - Steve Martin (3:46)
  9. 9 The Great Remember (For Nancy) - Steve Martin (3:10)
  10. 10 Women Like To Slow Dance - Steve Martin (2:13)
  11. 11 Hide Behind a Rock - Steve Martin (2:06)
  12. 12 Atheists Don't Have No Songs - Steve Martin (3:51)
  13. 13 King Tut - Steve Martin (3:06)
Read More Show Less

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Steve Martin Primary Artist
The Steep Canyon Rangers Primary Artist
Paul McCartney Guest Appearance
Dixie Chicks Guest Appearance
Ron Clearfield Cello
Technical Credits
Steve Martin Composer, Lyricist
Tony Trischka Producer
David Hough Engineer
Gary Paczosa Engineer
Doug Sax Mastering
Cynthia Daniels Recording Assistant
Graham Sharp Composer
Jon Ashley Engineer, Recording Assistant
Philip Barker Composer, Lyricist
The Steep Canyon Rangers Composer
Sharon Cullen Engineer
Sanwook "Sunny" Nam Mastering
Vanessa Parr Recording Assistant
Charles Humphrey III Composer, Lyricist
Steve Jones Engineer
Woody Platt Composer
Julian Dreyer Recording Assistant
Brandon Bell Engineer
John Frazier Composer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 4 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(2)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Posted March 18, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    5 star Recommended for all fans of bluegrass.

    This cd is full of great tunes. Martin's banjo picking is showcased in every song. The Step CAnyon Band is very talented. Vocals are spot on. Sir Paul McCartney sings on You Are My Best Love. Great CD!!!!!!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 18, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 1, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 5, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews