The New Varsity Quintet was formed in 2000 in Barcelona by 5 slightly inebriated members of the Whiffenpoofs, Yale's celebrated male chorus, who, not wanting to "pass and be forgotten like the rest," decided a new, intimate quartet was needed to celebrate Yale's 300th anniversary in flawless harmony. The five, pictured in the liner notes, holding engraved silver trophies and standing in front of a wall of ancient Yale plaques and photos, have the kind of butter-smooth harmonies and exuberance (and love for heartstring-tugging nostalgia) we usually only find in medal-winning barbershop groups. 13 songs are here: "We Meet Again To-night," "Mavourneen," "'Neath the Elms," "Eli Yale," "Aura Lee," "Mother of Men," the very funny "Daddy is a Yale Man" and "The Battle of the Books," "Brave Mother Yale," "Wake, Freshmen, Wake," "College Fight Song Medley, "Shall I, Wasting In Despair?" and "Bright College Years." Alumni and lovers of Yale, lovers of traditional American collegiate and folk music, and anyone who has ever seriously sung, in harmony, a line like "Bulldog, Bulldog, Bow Wow Wow," will cherish a copy of "Songs!" |