Glen Hansard
Country of origin:
Ireland
Type of music generally:
Folk-rock
Status:
Most recent release, Live at Sydney Opera House (live, 2020); most recent studio release, This Wild Willing (2019)
See also:
Glen Hansard's siteWikipedia's entry on Glen Hansard
The Ectophiles' Guide's entry on earlier project, The Swell Season
Ealier project: The Frames and Wikipedia's entry on The Frames
Comparisons:
His work with The Swell Season and The Frames. Often compared to Damien Rice, David Gray, and Josh Ritter.
Covers/own material:
Primarily own
General comments:
Soulful/emotional folk-rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (primarily guitar) best known for being the lead singer of The Frames and (with Marketa Irglova) half of the Oscar-winning duo that starred in the movie Once and became The Swell Season. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Recommended first album:
Rhythm and Repose or Didn't He Ramble (JoAnn Whetsell)
Recordings:
- Rhythm and Repose (2012)
- Drive All Night (EP, 2013)
- Didn't He Ramble (2015)
- Between Two Shores (2018)
- This Wild Willing (2019)
- Live at Sydney Opera House (live, 2020)
Rhythm and Repose
Release info:
2012—Anti—7203-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Glen Hansard—vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, guitar, piano
Guest artists:
Brad Albetta—bass (1-5, 7, 9, 10)
Thomas Bartlett—drums (1); piano (1-5, 7, 9, 10); keyboards (1, 7-10); pump organ (9-10)
David Mansfield—keyboards, slide guitar (2)
Ray Rizzo—drums (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Bryan Devendorf—drums (3)
Javier Mas—Spanish guitar (4, 7)
Clark Gayton—horns (4, 7)
Curt Ramm—horns (4, 7)
Jake Clemons—horns (4, 7)
Sam Amidon—voice (4, 9); banjo (9)
Aida Shahghasemi—voice (1)
Cristin Milioti—voice (1, 4)
Marketa Irglova—voice (1, 8)
Hannah Cohen—voice (3)
Rob Moose—strings (1-3; 5, 6, 8, 10, 11); keyboards (3)
Produced by:
Thomas Bartlett
Comments:
A beautiful album with a range of styles and emotions. This is closest to the emotional folk-rock of his work with The Swell Season . (JoAnn Whetsell)
Drive All Night
Release info:
2013—Anti—7216-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Glen Hansard
Guest artists:
Eddie Vedder (1)
Greg Leisz (1)
Jake Clemons (1)
Jay Bellerose (1)
Patrick Warren (1)
Brad Albetta (2, 3)
Ray Rizzo (2, 3)
Thomas Bartlett (2, 3)
Dawn Landes (3)
Hannah Cohen (3)
Marketa Irglova (3)
Rob Moose (3)
Produced by:
Joe Henry (1), Glen Hansard, Thomas Bartlett (2-4)
Comments:
A pretty good 4-track EP that highlights Glen Hansard's range. The highlight is definitely the title track, a Bruce Springsteen cover, that has the kind of smoldering intensity he does best. There are also two solid Rhythm and Repose b-sides and a lovely a cappella number to close. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Didn't He Ramble
Release info:
2015—Anti—7419-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Glen Hansard—vocals, piano, guitar, mandolin
Guest artists:
Brad Albetta—bass (1-4, 7, 8)
Thomas Bartlett—keyboards (1, 4); percussion (2); piano (2, 3), OP1 (2, 7-9); celesta (7)
Michael Buckley—saxophone (1, 4, 6, 9); flute (9)
Rob Moose—strings (1, 2, 4, 7, 8); mandolin (3); viola (9)
Curtis Fowlkes—trombone (1, 4, 6, 9)
Ronan Dooney—trumpet (1, 4, 6, 9)
Ray Rizzo—drums (2, 3, 8)
Sam Beam—vocals (2, 3, 6)
Sam Amidon—vocals (3, 6); violin (6)
The SUSO Gospel Choir—vocals (4)
Kenny Wollesen—drums (4, 7)
Romy—piano (4); additional piano (5); keyboards (6, 9)
John Sheahan—violin (5)
Joseph Doyle—bass (6, 9)
Earl Harvin—drums (6)
Graham Hopkins—drums (9)
Robert Bochnik—guitar (9)
Justin Carroll—keyboards (9)
David Odlum—percussion (9)
Produced by:
David Odlum
Comments:
Even better than his debut. It has a lot of the soulful folk-rock of his earlier work, but expands the sonic palette, adding horns and woodwinds (saxophone, flute). The album opens with a touch of the ethereal ("Grace Beneath the Pines"). The lovely and quiet "McCormack's Wall" ends with an instrumental bit that sounds like traditional Irish music, then goes right into "Lowly Deserter," the most rollicking track. A thoroughly gorgeous album. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Between Two Shores
Release info:
2018—Anti—7556-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Glen Hansard—vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, National 12-string guitar, mandolin
Guest artists:
Joseph Doyle—bass (1-4, 7, 8, 10)
Graham Hopkins—percussion (1-3, 10); drums (1-4, 7, 8, 10); backing vocals (3, 4)
Rob Bochnik—electric guitar (1-4, 7-10); backing vocals (3, 4)
Justin Carroll—Hammond organ (1-3, 7); piano (2, 8, 10); farfisa (3, 10); Wurlitzer (4); mellotron (8)
Michael Buckley—saxophone (1-4, 7, 8); flute (8)
Curtis Fowlkes—trombone (1-4, 7, 8)
Ronan Dooney—trumpet (1-4, 7, 8)
Jimi Zhivago—Hammond organ (5)
Chris Thomas—bass (6)
Brian Blade—drums (6)
Marvin Sewell—electric guitar (6)
Jeff Haynes—percussion (6)
Jon Cowherd—piano (6)
Ruth O'Mahony Brady—backing vocals (8)
Rob Moose—violin, viola (6, 9); acoustic guitar, mandolin (9)
Dawn Landes—backing vocals (9)
Marketa Irglova —backing vocals (9)
Brad Albetta—bass (9)
Ray Rizzo—drums (9)
Thomas Bartlett—piano (9)
Produced by:
Glen Hansard (1-4, 6-10); Jimi Zhivago (5)
Comments:
It took me longer to warm up to this album than to Hansard's first two. I'm not sure why; maybe it seemed to lean too much to the rock side of folk-rock. Anyway, when I finally connected to it, I realized it's really quite beautiful too. The highlight for me is "Your Heart's Not in It," but I could name a number of stand-out tracks. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Further info:
Compilation work includes:
The above tracks are not available elsewhere.
- "Cry Me a River" on Even Better Than the Real Thing, Vol. 1 (2003)
- "Too Many People" on The Cake Sale (2006)
- "A Caution to the Birds" on Road Relish (2007)
- "Take the Heartland" on The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond soundtrack (2012)
- "I Couldn't Say It to Your Face" on Master Mix: Red Hot + Arthur Russell (2014)
- "Pressing On" on A Tribute to Bob Dylan in the 80s: Volume One (2014)
- "Lay Me Down" on Whole Lotta Live: Best of Today FM Sessions (2015)
- "People Get Ready" on Mavis Staples—I'll Take You There: An All-Star Concert Celebration (2017)
- "Are You Getting Through" on The Journey soundtrack (2017)
- a live version of "Grace Beneath the Pines" on Other Voices 15 (2017)
Collaborations include:
- "First of the Last to Know" with Peter Katz on his album First of the Last to Know (2010)
- "Sleepless Nights" with Eddie Vedder on his album Ukulele Songs (2011)
- "Christmas Biscuits" single with Mark Geary (2013)
- "Races" with Judy Collins on her album Strangers Again (2015)
- "Questions" with Xs & Arrows on their EP From Here (2017)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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