At the End of Paths Taken explained
At the End of Paths Taken is the tenth studio album by the Canadian alt-country band Cowboy Junkies, released in 2007.
Reception
Per PopMatters, the album's emphasis is on family. The musicians are at the point in their lives where their time is divided between their children and their aging parents. One example of At the End of Paths Taken showcasing family is by having the Timmins' father narrate a segment from his book on "Mountain". Per No Depression, the album does not have a coherent style, with lilting ballads, junkyard clang, gloomy experimentalism, folk, and hymn-like music. Despite the disparate styles, the album is held together by the distinctive voice of Margo Timmins, and somehow the different styles feed off each other, making the album feel like a full and fated journey.[1] Per exclaim!, the album's theme is of slowly unravelling family ties. Margo's voice continues to be the centerpiece of the sound, but on this album it is augmented by the addition of strings to make the sound even more melancholy.[2]
Personnel
Cowboy Junkies
- Margo Timmins – vocals
- Michael Timmins – guitar, backing vocals
- Alan Anton – bass, percussion, keyboards
- Peter Timmins – drums, percussion, congas
Additional musicians[3]
- Jeff Bird – percussion, electronic mandolin
- Joby Baker – piano, keyboards, bass
- Henry Kucharczyk – digital kalimba, string arrangement & conducting
- Benjamine Bowman, Sandra Baron, Rebecca Vanderpost, Sarah Fraser-Raff – violin
- Amy Laing, Richard Armin – cello
- The Sara J. Ratzlaff / Madeleine Wiener Youth Choir – choir (track 11)
- John A.Timmins – narration (track 10) – read from his book I Don't Know Where I Am But I'm Making Good Time
Production[4] [3]
- Michael Timmins – producer, engineer
- Peter Moore – mastering
- Ian Bodzasi – recorded by (strings)
- Jeff Wolpert – mixing (tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
- Joby Backer – supplemental recorded by, mixing (tracks 2, 5, 6, 8 – 10)
- Matt Evees – assistant
- David Houghton – cover concept, art direction
- Alice Phieu – art direction assist, cover concept
- Angus MacPherson – cover photo
External links
- Web site: [{{discogs master|267715|At the End of Paths Taken|type=album|pure_url=yes}} Cowboy Junkies – At the End of Paths Taken {{!}} List of Releases ]. Discogs . April 25, 2013.
- Web site: At the End of Paths Taken Track lyrics . JunkiesFan.com . April 28, 2017.
Notes and References
- Web site: Cowboy Junkies – At the End of Paths Taken . No Depression . April 30, 2007 . April 28, 2017 . Blackstock, Peter .
- Web site: Cowboy Junkies – At the End of Paths Taken . exclaim! . May 23, 2007 . April 28, 2017 . Schneider, Jason.
- Web site: At the End of Paths Taken – CD Credits . Latent Recordings . April 28, 2017.
- Web site: Cowboy Junkies – At the End of Paths Taken . Discogs . April 28, 2017.
