Review: Doug Folkins - Another Last Call

Doug Folkins - Another Last Call
2009, Fenwick Music

British Columbia, Canada's Doug Folkins opens his fifth album, Another Last Call with Calico Girl, sounding like a cross between Blue Rodeo and early Crash Test Dummies. Folkins has a strong and clear voice that works very well with the material presented here. The arrangements are pleasant; perhaps a little loose in presentation but not uncharacteristically so. Pour Me Another is an acoustic Celtic Rock tune that features some hot fiddle playing. Promise Me sounds a bit more like commercial country music, but without the high gloss sheen that tends to rob popular country music of its flavor. The harmonies here are notable, and Folkins' band has pulled together as taut as a wire.

Streets Of Rome is a Celtic flavored song about Italy; one of the more anachronistic tunes I've heard this year, but extremely well written. The sound here actually reminds me a bit of The McKrells in their heyday. Park The Car is a humorous take on the Irish Drinking Song that might not sit well with members of MADD but fits very well into the musical tradition. One of my favorite tunes here is King Henry's Good Times. The pace here is frenetic, and Folkins' voice rises to the occasion perfectly. See You Smile is an upbeat, wistful love song that will strike home to those who have "been there", and would work just as well in a more rock-oriented arrangement as it does here. Folkins closes out with three classic Celtic tunes, two from the Maritime songbook, Paddy Murphy, Mari Mac and Black Velvet Band. If you've not heard these songs before, pay particular attention to Mari Mac, which turns into a devilish tongue twister that likely doubles as a drinking game in some places. This isn't my favorite arrangement of the song, but I've heard many people mangle this song and Folkins presents the song better than most (although he doesn't push the speedometer the way bands like Great Big Sea have). Black Velvet Band is a bit more traditional and very well presented here.

Doug Folkins reminds me more and more of Kevin McKrell as I listen to him. There is a definite tendency to mix other musical styles with Celtic sounds on Another Last Call, and for the most part the results are positive. The play, singing and writing/arrangement on Another Last Call are all very much above average. I hesitate to call it a great album, as there just wasn't a "whoa" moment here, but it's very, very, very good.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Doug Folkins at http://www.dougfolkins.com/. You can purchase a copy of Another Last Call at www.cdbaby.com/cd/dougfolkins.

Review: Garry Jackson - Something's Got A Hold On Me

Garry Jackson – Something’s Got A Hold On Me
2007, Wild Oats Records
Garry Jackson is a Toronto native who splits his time between Schomberg, Ontario and Nashville, Tennessee. Jackson has several recordings under his belt, and for the past few years has been recording for Wild Oats Records in Nashville. His most recent effort, Something’s Got A Hold On Me was produced by Steve Haggard and release in 2007. Jackson writes classic country/folk/Americana singer/songwriter material in the tradition of John Prine, Neil Young and Jackson Browne. Jackson has a pleasant, easy-going voice that fits perfectly into the web of his songs; dynamic without overwhelming the music. What is most impressive is the music itself, which is flawless and tight and full of movement. This isn’t cookie cutter folk by any means, Jackson and his band are top flight musicians

Something’s Got A Hold On Me opens with Fair Belfast Town, a Celtic flavored ode to that great city. It is a sweet tribute. Mixed Up Crazy is a musical extravaganza with amazing harmonies and some very intriguing pick work on the guitar. Its A Crying Shame is one of my favorites on the disc. It’s an upbeat song about hidden sins that is thought provoking. Mourn For Me No More is one of those songs where I love the arrangement but just didn’t like the song all that much. It’s done as a classic story song but just moves too slowly; great instrumentation though. The best song on the album is No More Are We To Paint This Town. It’s a song of heartache and sorrow that is well-written and well-delivered.

Garry Jackson starts with the songwriting style of Neil Young and John Prine and fills it in with Celtic and Appalachian influences on Something’s Got A Hold On Me. Jackson has an easy vocal style and is surrounded by some outstanding musicians, and most of the time this is enough to carry the album. The material is a little uneven, but generally quite good. Something’s Got A Hold On Me is a definite must for Folk and Singer/Songwriter fans.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Garry Jackson at http://www.garryjackson.ca/ or www.myspace.com/garryjacksonmusic. You can purchase a copy of Something’s Got A Hold On Me at www.cdbaby.com/cd/garryjackson2.

Review: The McKrells - Traveling Man

The McKrells – Traveling Man
2008, Thorntree Music

The McKrells are legends in Upstate New York, as well as being highly respected internationally in the Celtic music scene (Not to mention they are Wildy's World's Artist Of The Month for March of 2009). The band created a hybrid of Celtic and bluegrass sounds that earned them the appreciation of every crowd they played in, whether in a small pub in Ireland, their home base of The Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs, NY or even Carnegie Hall. The last few years have seen major changes in personnel and sound, but the heart of The McKrells; Kevin McKrell’s songwriting and voice, remains. Their latest CD, Traveling Man, was released in 2008 on Thorntree Music. It’s a change for longtime fans, but not necessarily an unwelcome one.

Traveling Man opens with the title track, a light and airy bit of Celtic influenced pop that will get your feet moving. This leads into the Bold Fenian Men, offered here as a low-key Celtic rocker. Kevin McKrell is in fine voice here, and harmonies from daughter Kate McKrell complete the aesthetic. McKrell offers up a primo performance on Shores Of America. Kevin McKrell’s voice has an iconic quality to it that is unforgettable, and Shores is the perfect opportunity to hear why.

Christmas Day is performed in the style of classic American Folk music by Kevin McKrell on guitar and vocals with harmonies from daughter Kate McKrell. It is a hopeful tune that strives for light at Christmas in darker times and is quite apropos amidst current events. One of two personal favorites on the disc is Two Peas In A Pod, a wonderful “silly little love song” that you’ll have on continuous replay. It’s a cute little mix-tape candidate that’s highly infectious and unforgettable. McKrell works in a glory days song on Ronnie’s Golden Mustang; if you’re a child of the late 1960’s or early 1970’s then this song will hit home (particularly with the Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grand Funk Railroad, John Lennon/Yoko and Lynyrd Skynyrd references), but every generation expresses these sentiments sooner or later.

My other personal favorite is The Motel de Marquis Lafayette. With clear roots in the Celtic and American Folk traditions, this is a virally infectious tune that will get stuck in your head for days, perhaps weeks. Traveling Man closes out with Tunnel Tigers in a bit of Celtic Funk/Rock (listen to the bass) that’s highly enjoyable.

There’s no doubt there’s been a big change in the sound of The McKrells. The strong Bluegrass element of their sound has departed, but it has turned the remaining McKrells back to their Celtic roots. The resultant CD, Traveling Man, is refreshing and immensely enjoyable album. As a writer and arranger, they don’t get much more talented than Kevin McKrell, and the rest of the band is top notch. Do yourself a favor and put this at the top of your listening list for St. Patrick’s Day. You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Kevin McKrell and The McKrells at http://www.kmckrell.com/. You can purchase a copy of Traveling Man at www.cdbaby.com/cd/mckrells8.

Artist Of The Month: The McKrells (March, 2009)

The McKrells have changed significantly over the past few years, but still at the heart of the band is lead singer/songwriter Kevin McKrell. The McKrells were essentially the house band in Saratoga Springs, NY’s The Parting Glass for years. Aside from their home base, the McKrells played everywhere from little pubs in the Irish Countryside all the way up to Carnegie Hall. Kevin McKrell, Chris Leske and Craig Vance combined their respective songwriting talents to create one of the most distinctive hybrids of Celtic and Bluegrass around. These days Leske and Vance had moved on, but one-time member Rick Bedrosian has returned to the fold, as well as Kevin’s daughter Katie McKrell, and the McKrells continue on perhaps a little bit closer to the Celtic heart that’s always run through their music. McKrell’s songs have been recorded by the likes of The Furey Brothers, Seamus Kennedy, The Woods Tea Company, Hair Of The Dog, North Sea Gas, Pat McKernan and The Kingston Trio.

Watch out in the coming week, we’ll have a review of The McKrells’ latest offering, Traveling Man. (We’ve also previously reviewed Cosmic Hayride, as well as one-time McKrells violinist Sarah Milonovich’s Daisycutter.

You can find several of The McKrells’ releases at CDBaby.com, both as CDs or downloads, but if you’re really going to appreciate The McKrells you need to see them live. Keep checking back for more information as the month progresses!

Review: Derek Byrne – Seize The Moment

Derek Byrne – Seize The Moment
2008, Derek Byrne

Derek Byrne has three great loves, his family, music and Ireland. After spending six years touring with Riverdance, and several more with his band, Eider, Byrne has settled down into a solo career. Byrne released two solo albums in 2008. We were lucky enough to receive Seize The Moment for review. Seize The Moment is a rare album that builds into something more than just recorded muse; It’s an experience. Derek Byrne sings and plays as If these songs run in his life’s blood. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin (originally Kildare, Ireland) based singer/songwriter gives his all on the twelve songs presented here. Whether it’s outstanding instrumental work (Eidirian, Blue Eyed Canyon, Running On Fumes Theme) or amazing vocals, Byrne is on top of his game.

There are two songs on this album that are other-worldly, they’re so good. Seize The Moment is a beautiful song about keeping love alive in light of all the responsibilities and pressures that day to day life places on our shoulders. It’s a message we would all do well to stop and listen to from time to time, and the song itself is timeless. Expect this to be picked up and covered again and again by other artists. Likewise The Beautiful Truth; a paean written from father to daughter, filled with all of the love and emotion that relationship classically encompasses. A stone would failed to be unmoved by The Beautiful Truth. Both of these songs are special in that they represent a feeling or relationship in a fashion that is iconic and archetypical while remaining incredibly personal and touching. The musical arrangement for each is amazing.

Of course the rest of the album isn’t so bad either. Byrne is an amazing instrumentalist, and that runs through all of his songs, but Eidirian is a particularly representative piece. Rhythm Of Falling is a starkly honest song that is all heart and very memorable. Save Tara is a gorgeous a Capella piece that you’ll have to hear to believe. Red Is The Rose marches to a martial beat in a classic performance. Other highlights include My Land, Hawaiian Pigeon Breakdown and Marie’s Wedding.

I’ve never heard of Derek Byrne before this, and I am utterly amazed that a singer/songwriter this talented could stay effectively hidden from the world for this long. A gifted lyricist as well, Byrne represents the human heart in his music like no other songwriter I’ve heard, all done up in classic Celtic/folk arrangements. Perfect is, of course, unattainable, but for the 12 songs on Seize The Moment, Derek Byrne comes as closes as it’s possible to come. Seize The Moment is, of course, a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc. Make this CD part of your collection.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Derek Byrne at http://www.derekbyrnemusic.com/. You can purchase Seize The Moment at www.cdbaby.com/cd/derekbyrne2.