Northern Lights Southern Cross - THE BAND****

Forbidden Fruit/Hobo Jungle/Ophelia/Acadian Driftwood/Ring Your Bell/It Makes No Difference/Jupiter Hollow/ Rags & Bones

Northern Lights Southern Cross was the last commercially successful studio album from The Band which the critics also judged to be their best for many years. (US:26)

“The Band always managed to blend a variety of influences into their albums, and this takes it to the next level. While this does have the overall Band feel, it also manages to jazz it up with Ophelia and, with synthesizers, songs like Jupiter Hollow almost sound like progressive rock.”

“The songs were a little longer than usual but only eight tracks were included. In this case brevity translated into excellence as Northern Lights Southern Cross would be The Band’s last truly superior studio album.”

“This is a great Band record, the last time they achieved that together in the studio. It updates rather than retreads the sound of previous successes, and features a set of killer songs, at least three of which are regarded as classics.”

“It really is a good comeback. Robertson injects some actual heart into his songs for the first time since Stage Fright, and some ridiculously gnarly guitar as well. Superb performances from the rest of the crew as well.”

“This is their swan song, a very mature sounding collection, and there's not a weak track among the bunch.”

“Not every song is a classic, but there are enough of them here to let Northern Lights Southern Cross hold up with the rest of The Band's amazing catalogue. The classics include Ophelia a fun number that chugs along well, Acadian Driftwood where the band regain their storytelling form, and my favourite It Makes No Difference, one of Rick Danko's most heartfelt and beautiful songs.”

“I love the way these songs flow seamlessly from one to another. The songs all deal with loss, upheaval, movement, endurance, cycles of joy and sadness, all beautifully pieced together.”