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 11/2006

    THE GUGGENHEIM GROTTO
    Waltzing Alone

  • reviewed 11/2009

    TUNE-YARDS
    Bird-Brains

  • reviewed 06/2007

    LEONARD COHEN
    Songs of Love and Hate

  • reviewed 05/2009

    LEONARD COHEN
    SELECTIONS FROM LIVE IN LONDON

  • reviewed 06/2011

    PUTNAM SMITH
    We Could Be Beekeepers

  • reviewed 12/2012

    TY MAXON
    Calling of the Crows

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.