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 10/2009

    HOPE SANDOVAL & THE WARM INVENTIONS
    Through the Devil Softly

  • reviewed 04/2012

    DRY THE RIVER
    Weights and Measures [EP]

  • reviewed 11/2016

    David Crosby
    Lighthouse

  • reviewed 02/2014

    Sara Jean Kelley
    The Waiting Place

  • reviewed 06/2005

    Erin McKeown
    We Will Become Like Birds

  • reviewed 09/2006

    BEN AND BRUNO
    My Mother's Hand

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.