Hugh Morrison - Robert Burns Rocks

Hugh Morrison - Robert Burns Rocks
2010, Dun Einstein Productions

Murder The Stout front man steps out on his own with the help of many friends on Robert Burns Rocks, a collection of vibrant rockers based on the work of Robert Burns.  Enlisting the help of Johnny Rioux and Marcus Hollar from Boston’s Street Dogs; Judi Nicolson (Banchory’s Scottish Golden Fiddle champion); Kendall Rogers; Murder The Stout’s Jay Brooks and Andy Salmon; Cory Kaiser and Aoife Ni Ghloinn, Hugh Morrison finds the swarthy adolescent glee that runs through Burns best works and brings it out as only a Celtic-punk front man can.

Robert Burns Rocks opens with “Leezy Lindsay”, a courtship song from the perspective of a Scottish Lord that’s effervescent and bright.  It’s a great opener that will make you want to dance around and perhaps exchange a cloved orange or two.  “Rantin’ Rovin’ Robin” keeps the same buoyant sensibility before Morrison moves into the musically darker territory on “Ye Jacobites By Name” without losing an ounce of catchiness.  Morrison is a dynamic and rough shod vocalist, sharing some vocal lineage with Shane MacGowan.  By contrast, vocalist Aoife Ni Ghloinn, who takes the lead on “Ye Banks And Braes” offers an air of beauty to the album with a voice as smooth as cream and as stark as a red rose against the morning green. 

“Red Red Rose” is a major change of pace, a quiet and reverent instrumental consisting of piano, violin and squeezebox that’s quite lovely in its own right.  Morrison gets ultra-patriotic with “Scots Wha Hae”, a theme of the Scottish National Party and the long-time de facto national anthem of Scotland.  The Burns poem is an interpretation of the speech given by Robert Bruce before the Battle of Bannockburn.  It is a stirring moment that Morrison delivers with passion and soul.  “Awa Whigs Awa” digs into the eternal political conflict in Scotland between The Stuarts and those with Fealty to the British Crown, delivered with a distinctly traditionalist slant.  Aoife Ni Ghloinn returns with Morrison on “Ae Fond Kiss”, a sweet love song full of memory.  You’ll be kicking up your heels to “Burns Reels”, and reminiscing with Morrison on “Rigs O’ Barely”.  “Farewell To The Highlands” is an ode to the Old Sod, full of love and reverence.  Morrison closes a great punk/folk rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”.

Hugh Morrison rocks Robert Burns, or perhaps it’s the other way around, on Robert Burns Rocks.  Scotland often gets the shaft in the world of Celtic music, but Hugh Morrison gives a world-class reminder that Scotland’s rich heritage is as dynamic and intriguing.  Granted, Burns’ poetry provides the heart, but Morrison brings life and soul to Burn’s lyrics with the irreverent air of rock n roll never far away.  Don’t be surprised if you find yourself seeking out Murder The Stout to see what else Morrison has done, and pining for more material from the gloriously voiced Aoife Ni Ghloinn. 

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Hugh Morrison at www.hughmorrison.com or www.myspace.com/hughmorrison.  Robert Burns Rocks is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available digitally from iTunes.

Review: Movers & Shakers - Larrabee

Movers & Shakers – Larrabee
2009, Movers & Shakers

Boston’s Mover’s & Shakers bring on the Country grit crossed with punker energy and a Pop glaze on their sophomore album, Larrabee. Recorded in a cabin in the Maine woods, the album has the raw, unadorned quality that only a New England summer could inspire. Compared to the likes of The Replacements, Tom Waits and even Uncle Tupelo, Movers & Shakers certainly seem to have struck a chord with listeners and critics alike.

Larrabee opens with Adventures In Unrealistic Life, a big old Americana pub tune if ever I've heard one. You could almost see the cast of Cheers breaking into this song while Coach Ernie Pantuso serves up another round. Take Your Time is a great upbeat acoustic/electric tune that leans more toward the rock side of the scale. This is a great pop tune but retains enough of a garage sound to be palatable to Indie fans. All Of My Lines sticks loosely within the Americana realm, but struggles to break free into a virulent post-punk rock tune at times. This is swaying on the lawn of an amphitheater in summertime with your lighter raised music.

Find A Reason is a classic country rocker that will get in your head and dance around for days, reminiscent of what The Heartbreakers might sound like if Shane MacGowan were singing instead of Tom Petty. The Evidence, The Proof rips the roof off in a style that I can old describe as Punktry/Americana. This is the best written track on the disc and should appeal to fans across several genres. In The Eyes finds Movers & Shakers back in Tom Petty's neighborhood, with lead vocalist Matt Price providing a rough edged vocal that fits the sound perfectly. Boomsplat gets a little Texas Blues guitar styles going in a fun tune that will make you want to get up and dance. The album closes out with Take Me Home, a classic pop/rock tune dressed up in Americana trappings that will dance around your brain for days after listening.

Movers & Shakers offer up some delicious Americana with Punk energy and Rock N Roll flare on Larrabee. This is perhaps one of the most pleasant musical surprises thus far in 2009. Here's hoping Movers & Shakers keeps coming back with more!

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Movers & Shakers at www.myspace.com/moversandshakers, where you can purchase a copy of Larrabee, or you can download it from iTunes.

Review: The Rye - The Rye

The Rye – The Rye
2006, The Rye

Galway, Ireland is home to one of the more impressive and energetic Celtic acts you’re likely to come across. The Rye take the energy (and to a degree, the sound) of The Pogues and combine it with the lyrical acuity of Tom Waits. Add in some of the tightest, most impressive ensemble play on the West Coast of Ireland and you have not just a band but a musical experience. The Rye’s debut EP, The Rye, was released in 2006, but unless you’re a denizen of the pubs of Ireland you’ve likely not heard of The Rye. It’s too bad, but it’s not too late. Trust me; you want to add The Rye to your library.

The Rye opens with Banana Song, with lead vocalist Kevin Melly sounding like Shane McGowan, complete with nearly indecipherable lyrics. It’s a great tune, and lively; I just wish I could make out much of what he’s singing here. Square Peig is a wonderfully complex reel that will have you up and dancing. Lonely Mary is a sad but sweet love song full of loss and the fear of loss. Polcat Blues is a great acoustic Blues/Rock hybrid that will get your toes tapping and that you’ll be humming for days. The Rye closes out with the memorable instrumental Katie Lie Over.

Melly is a memorable and distinctive vocalist, and fans of The Pogues really will do a double take when they hear him. Anna Falkenau plays the meanest Irish fiddle since Ashley Mac Isaac’s quart-a-show days. The rest of the band, Alan Walsh (guitar, banjo, vox); Barry Wallace (bass, banjo) and Dessie Harrington (drums) are top notch. I finished up listening to The Rye wishing for more, and also that they’d be playing a date here in Buffalo very soon. The CD is great listening, but this is a band with the potential to own an audience. They just need the opportunity.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Rye at http://www.therye.ie/. You can purchase a copy of The Rye at www.cdbaby.com/cd/therye.