Hadestown | ||||
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Studio album by Anaïs Mitchell | ||||
Released | March 9, 2010 (U.S.) | |||
Recorded | Brooklyn Recording Studio, New York City | |||
Genre | Folk, indie folk | |||
Length | 57:17 | |||
Label | Righteous Babe | |||
Producer | Todd Sickafoose | |||
Anaïs Mitchell chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | |
Allmusic | |
BBC | (positive) |
Drowned in Sound | |
The Guardian | |
NME | |
The Observer | (very positive) |
Stereo Subversion | A |
The Times | |
Uncut |
Hadestown is the fourth album by Vermont-based Anaïs Mitchell, and was released by Righteous Babe Records in the U.S. on March 9, 2010. The album, a concept album, follows a variation on the Ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, where Orpheus must embark on a quest to rescue his wife Eurydice from the underworld. It has been advertised as a 'folk opera'. Several of the songs feature singers other than Mitchell, including Justin Vernon (better known as lead vocalist and guitarist of Wisconsin-based band Bon Iver), Ani DiFranco, Greg Brown, and Tanya, Petra and Rachel Haden (referred to in the track listing as 'The Haden Triplets').
The album features orchestral arrangements by Michael Chorney, who was involved with Anaïs' recordings since Hymns for the Exiled in 2004. The recording itself is based upon a live version of the 'folk opera' which was performed by Mitchell with the collaboration of Mr. Chorney and a theatrical director, Ben T. Matchstick. These performances originally featured a 22-person cast and, after a tour of New England, the songs began to be edited and reworked.
Within the narrative of the album, the part of Orpheus is played by Vernon, Persephone by DiFranco, Hades by Greg Brown, The Fates by Tanya, Petra and Rachel Haden, Hermes by Ben Knox Miller and Mitchell herself plays Eurydice.