Review: “Caledonia” by Hank Cramer
Artist: Hank Cramer
Album: Caledonia
There are some albums that are only compatible with a specific mood. Caledonia is an example of such a CD. It’s full of classic Celtic songs, but with a twist. Hank Cramer gives them a mellow, almost melancholy undertone, so you’d better be in the mood for that before you put on this CD (or put it on and let yourself get into that mood).
This feeling – let’s call it ‘saudade’ – shines through especially on the acoustic tracks, such as A Health to the Company and Bonnie Heilin’ Laddie, but it is present throughout, thanks to the subtle but poignant use of instruments. This music takes you by the hand and leads you into a gloomy autumn forest, with tepid rain drops dripping down between the leaves, onto your uncovered head.
Yet for all the depressing-sounding language I used there, that forest I mentioned is actually a very pleasant place to be. Hank Cramer manages to stir up the kind of basic feelings music is supposed to awaken. So put on the CD, and let the warm waves of this large selection of beautifully-rendered Celtic traditionals sweep over you.
Jan Jacob Mekes has a passion for history, writing, and writing history (and music, of course). He runs an online cultural magazine, Cultural Zest. You can read more examples of his writings on his portfolio. Jan also writes reviews for Marc Gunn’s Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
Review: “Peace By Peace” by Siochain
Artist: Siochain
Album: Peace By Peace
I’m always a sucker for renditions of “Wild Mountain Thyme”, so this band had me interested from the get go. Well, that and their version of “Amazing Grace”. If you are going to do classics, you’d better do them well, and Siochain has done that here on Peace by Peace.
[Oh, and just fyi--you pronounce Siochain “Shee’–a–kawn”, emphasizing the "shee". In case you were wondering.]
Claudia Campbell’s vocals here are strong and impactful throughout. She has a tone that people would automatically associate with Celtic music, just by its sound. Although the group is no longer together, they have a couple of excellent albums to show for their time as a band, and this is one of them. (Their other album was titled, “Disturbing the Peace”.)
Siochain falls comfortably into the Celtic rock/world music genre, and most fans of this type of music will find this a good CD. If you are searching for something new–why not give this band a try?
Catherine L. Tully specializes in writing about the arts, lifestyle and travel. She is the Owner of 4dancers, a blog for those who love dance, and Editor for Freelance-Zone, an award-winning site for freelance writers. Catherine also reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
Review: “Delia’s Hearth” by Nancy Daily-Green
Artist: Nancy Daily-Green
Album: Delia’s Hearth
A sweet album with an even sweeter sound. That really says it all here.
Nancy Daily-Green has a lovely approach, and her vocals are pretty, as well as rich with feeling. The accompaniment here is delicate, yet well done, and the gentle touch gives many of the tracks here an almost magical feel. Dedicated to Delia O’Halloran, Daily-Green’s neighbor in Ireland, this CD will be something you’ll savor if you’re a fan of ren faire music.
The folk songs compiled here reflect b0th traditional and original music, and they have been chosen carefully to evoke everyday life in the Connemara areas of Counties Galway and Mayo. This isn’t the type of album that explodes into memory, but rather one that steals its way slowly into your heart. You won’t hear rhythmic gymnastics or speedy, intricate instrumentation, but you will hear quality arrangements and thoughtfully chosen tunes.
If your music collection has room for a subtle, folk-styled Celtic CD, this is definitely one to consider. Nancy Daily-Green has taken the time to deliver something wonderful. Those who sample “Delia’s Hearth” will no doubt agree.
Catherine L. Tully specializes in writing about the arts, lifestyle and travel. She is the Owner of 4dancers, a blog for those who love dance, and Editor for Freelance-Zone, an award-winning site for freelance writers. Catherine also reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
Celtic Comedy Music Has a New Godfather, Marc Gunn Releases Kilted For Her Pleasure
Marc Gunn releases his latest CD, an all-out Celtic comedy music album for those who love to laugh by the undisputed “Godfather of Celtic Music Online”.
New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) August 16, 2010
“Do you like kilts and Celtic music?”
That’s the question Celtic folk musician, Marc Gunn, asks with his latest CD, “Kilted For Her Pleasure”. The album is all-out Celtic comedy music for those who love to laugh by the undisputed “Godfather of Celtic Music Online”. Gunn has offered more Celtic MP3 downloads free and legally than any other Celtic musician online. His latest CD is a testament to his dedication to the fun Celtic music he loves.
The album features fifteen tracks of sing-alongable Celtic songs that range from the traditional to the twisted. Traditional pieces include the popular Clancy Brothers’ song “Beer, Beer, Beer” and the less-known but sprightly bawdy, song “Maid Went to the Mill”.
Some of the more fun songs are originals penned by Marc Gunn. “A Drop of Vulcan Blood” is a parody of an old Sea Shanty that is rewritten about Star Trek. “Monahan’s Mudder’s Milk” is a Celtic tribute to the Sci Fi Western TV show “Firefly” by Joss Whedon. At it’s base, it’s a Woody Guthrie-style worker’s rights song about a man trying to escape the oppression of a dead-end job. Then there’s the title track, “Kilted For Her Pleasure”, which explains just why Gunn loves the kilt.
“I love wearing a kilt,” says Gunn dressed in his newest olive green Utilikilt, “but it’s so much more than the love of my Scottish heritage. It’s a love of my whole Celtic culture… Not to mention the looks I get from the ladies.”
However, it is the contemporary songs that shine the brightest on this album. Comedy songwriter Spaff co-wrote the song “St. Patrick Never Drank” and satirically announces that the good Saint never touched alcohol, despite the fact that St Patrick’s Day is probably the most-drunken day of the year. However, the funniest song by far is Daniel Glasser’s comedic lullaby called “Close Your Eyes”. The reason? “Because the demons in your bed are gonna eat you up.”
The album is an exciting breakthrough into an untapped market for Celtic comedy music. “Celts love to laugh as much as anyone,” Gunn begins, “I just thought I’d give them something for our contemporary Celtic culture.”
In the spirit of the indie musician, Gunn paid for the album entirely through fan sponsorships. Thirty-eight fans donated various amounts of money, from $40 to $500, to help pay for this album. That includes the Executive Producer, a collectible toy store owner credited as “Lord and Master Larry Owens of www.NRFBToyStore.com“. In just two short months, the album was paid for in its entirety by Gunn’s passionate fans.
Track listing:
1. Kilted For Her Pleasure
2. A Drop of Vulcan Blood
3. Maid Went to the Mill
4. Close Your Eyes
5. Beer, Beer, Beer
6. To the Begging He Will Go
7. The True History of No Pants Day
8. Jock Stuart, A Man Who Wears a Kilt Every Day
9. St. Patrick Never Drank
10. Call of the Bodice
11. The Mower
12. The Widow and the Devil
13. Kitty Cat
14. The Sailboat Armada
15. Monahan’s Mudder’s Milk
Marc Gunn is available for interviews. MP3 downloads of album songs are also available for review. Find out more at www.marcgunn.com or at www.yearofthekilt.com.
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Review: “Sixth And Porter” by The Kreellers
Artist: The Kreellers
Album: Sixth And Porter
Do you love harmonica and drums? Are you into Celtic rock? If so, this CD is a peppy and fun one, offering up plenty of tracks that pound out energy and verve. I thought it was a lot of fun!
The musicianship here is fantastic and the vocals strong. A great selection of tunes helps keep the listener engaged, but for me it was the harmonica that kept my foot a tappin’. Something about that instruments makes me feel happy, and there’s plenty of it to go around on this album. The percussion provides enough backbone and everything else fills in nicely.
You won’t find pipes or fiddle as the centerpiece here, so if that’s what you’re into, you might want to look elsewhere. That said, don’t pass on this CD because of that–the music is full and bright and the arrangements are top notch. This is one of those albums where choosing a favorite track or two was just impossible for me. I found myself looking forward to each new song to see what it was going to bring to the table. None of them disappointed.
If you are hoping to find a band with style and energy that can knock things out of the park–be sure to give this band a try.
Catherine L. Tully specializes in writing about the arts, lifestyle and travel. She is the Owner of 4dancers, a blog for those who love dance, and Editor for Freelance-Zone, an award-winning site for freelance writers. Catherine also reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
Review: “Out On The Ocean” by Nine 8-ths Irish
Artist: Nine 8-ths Irish
Album: Out On The Ocean
This is the second CD for Nine 8-ths Irish, and it offers traditional music at its best. This five-piece band hails from Sacramento and they bring with them influences such as bluegrass and jazz, but these are spices, not the main course. This album has some wonderful session music, traditional songs and even original songs written by one of the band members.
The blend of tunes is good here and the band does a nice job bringing them to life. The CD can easily hold its own against groups that have far more time together, and each band member gets a “turn” in the limelight here, which is nice. Track 8, “Greenland Whale Fisheries”, shows off pretty harmonies while other songs such as “Roisin Dhu” and “Sally Gardens/Franks’ Reel” leave the instruments front and center.
The band describes their music as “Irish and a wee bit more”, and it is an apt explanation for the sounds you’ll hear on the CD. Traditionalists will have their appetites satisfied, but those who want a little more than your typical fare will be pleased as well. If you’re looking for something good with plenty of tracks to check out, this is something that will satisfy.
Catherine L. Tully specializes in writing about the arts, lifestyle and travel. She is the Owner of 4dancers, a blog for those who love dance, and Editor for Freelance-Zone, an award-winning site for freelance writers. Catherine also reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
Review: “My Rare One” by Fleur Mainville & The Bedlam Boys
Artist: Fleur Mainville & The Bedlam Boys
Album: My Rare One
If you think you know the music of the fiddle inside out, Fleur Mainville is here to prove you wrong. While incorporating traditional elements of Celtic music, Fleur’s violin play completely transcends tradition. She’s very virtuosic with the violin, cranking out melodies at such a breakneck speed that you’d have to be made out of stone if they didn’t make you at least bop your head along.
I think I could easily listen to an entire CD full of just Fleur playing the violin, but this album brings more to the table. Apart from playing the fiddle, Fleur sings as well, and quite well at that, reimagining old favourites and giving them a rock flavour, without making them inaccessible. The great performances from the Bedlam Boys throughout also add a lot to the music. There’s even a song in French, and it’s handled surprisingly well.
Most of the songs are pretty fast, which also means they’re not always very long, but that’s okay, because they’re good. In fact, I would rank the slower songs among the weaker ones of the album. Still, My Rare One is a fantastic listen if you like Celtic music with an edge, without venturing into hard rock territory.
Jan Jacob Mekes has a passion for history, writing, and writing history (and music, of course). He runs an online cultural magazine, Cultural Zest. You can read more examples of his writings on his portfolio. Jan also writes reviews for Marc Gunn’s Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
Review: “Green Street” by Fergus
Artist: Fergus
Album: Green Street
A good start is half the battle. That is what the members of Fergus must have thought when they recorded the album Green Street, because it pulls you right into its uplifting rhythms with The Clankey Jig. It only gets better from then on. In Rocky Road to Dublin, we meet Fergus’ female singer, who has a deep, rich voice which is perfect for this Irish music.
The rest of the album offers up a good selection of covers, but the band makes these covers feel very fresh, almost like original songs. All throughout the album, Fergus displays a great amount of musical prowess, handling intimate ballads like From Clare to Here and more upbeat songs like Madam I’m A Darling equally well. Far from acting as a one-trick pony, they approach each song differently, but not to the point of feeling forced.
In short, this is a solid album, and should not be missed by lovers of good music, Irish or otherwise. I was a little sad to learn on Fergus’ website that they won’t be continuing as a band anymore, but hopefully these talented musicians will go on in some way!
Jan Jacob Mekes has a passion for history, writing, and writing history (and music, of course). He runs an online cultural magazine, Cultural Zest. You can read more examples of his writings on his portfolio. Jan also writes reviews for Marc Gunn’s Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
Review: “Curse Of The Hag” by The Brazen Heads
Artist: The Brazen Heads
Album: Curse of the Hag
High energy music here folks! Guinness Song is a great track to single out in terms of what you’ll get when you put this CD on. Not quite the raucous mayhem of those “punk” Celtic bands, but songs that still supply a good dose of irreverence. In other words…good stuff!
“Echoes” was a lovely, lovely song that shows a far different side (as well as range of capability) for this band. I’m always impressed by that when I see it, and this is no exception. It takes skill and the willingness to stretch a little as musicians. This band seems to embrace that rather than fear it. You can see that softness on “I’ll Be With You” as well. Oh, and be sure to listen for some fabulous harmony on “It’s My Way”.
If you are in the mood for some terrific music, go straight for “Curse of the Hag”, the title track. You’ll see that these guys don’t play around when it comes to what they can do with their instruments. They’re out to impress–and they do succeed. There’s something about the pacing of these tunes that really attracted me. They exuded energy without being “noisy”, which is a tough thing to accomplish.
These guys are one of the better Celtic bands that I’ve heard.
Catherine L. Tully specializes in writing about the arts, lifestyle and travel. She is the Owner of 4dancers, a blog for those who love dance, and Editor for Freelance-Zone, an award-winning site for freelance writers. Catherine also reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
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