The Dunn Boys - Volume 1

The Dunn Boys - Volume 1
2011, The Dunn Boys

The Dunn Boys are a family band from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.  Started by Paul Dunn and his sons Jason, Josiah and Jacob, rumor has it the Dunn Boys started a hockey team and a band broke out in the confusion.  Blending Celtic, folk, rock and punk with spiritual themes, The Dunn Boys seem to be on to a winning combination of style and sound.  Their debut EP, Volume 1, sets the stage for bigger things to come. 

The Dunn Boys represent the East Coast of Canada well on their debut album, Volume 1.  Kicking off with the snippet "Mullac Abu", The Dunn Boys move quickly into the raucous party song "Nova Scotia".  "Brian Moore" is an energetic tribute; a toasting song that is entertaining and fun.  "Ballad Of Danny Fitzgerald" has a fairy tale feel, an old school love song where things work out well in the end.  "St. Jerome" is an urgent and energetic prayer for survival at sea with a vaguely haunting quality.  "Norland" finds The Dunn Boys employing some of Celtic-punk oomph of Captain Tractor, while cannibalizing the melody of "It's A Long Way To Tipperary" for the chorus.  Lead singer Jason Dunn shines here for both vocal acumen and attitude.    "Rosaline" is the second highlight of the album, a heartfelt and sincere love song with a melody you won't be able to shake.  "Black Velvet Band" is the story of how a woman and drink lead to Van Diemen's Land.  It's the sort of shanty sung to both make the work pass and remind young sailors to not get too tied down on shore leave.  Volume 1 closes with the gorgeous and lilting "Lullaby", the brightest moment on the album and an indication that within the heart of these warrior poets beats the heart of true songwriters.

The Dunn Boys impress on Volume 1, although it may take a few listens to really get the vibe.  These guys slowly grow on you; their music opening to you on successive listens like a flower slowly unwrapping in the sun.  Volume 1 should be the first of many, as The Dunn Boys find their balance between raucous fun and outstanding songwriting.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about The Dunn Boys on MySpace and Facebook.  Volume 1 is available digitally from Amazon.com or iTunes.

Fire On McGinnis - Fire On McGinnis

Fire On McGinnis - Fire On McGinnis
2010, Fire On McGinnis

Juneau, Alaska isn't known as a hotbed for Indie Music, but long cold nights make for great jamming, a jug o' Punch passed around while playing fiddle tunes is hardly the worst way to warm the heart.  This idea, or one like it, likely gave birth to Celtic rockers Fire On McGinnis.  Working with less than world class recording equipment and resources, the band have cut a respectable debut album in the form of Fire On McGinnis. 

There are a lot of pros and cons on Fire On McGinnis.  The vocalist just doesn't have the chops to lead a band of this sort, and Fire On McGinnis has altered their recording and production values to accommodate its singer.  This is apparent throughout the album.  The album opens with "The Bells Of Dunlanc", an instrumental that mixes traditional Celtic styles with a rock n roll sound.  Pipes and violin tell their tale over a martial bead and stolid bass and guitar.  "Foggy Dew" is solid, with good energy and okay vocals.  "Paddy's Leather Breeches" opens with a guitar line that sounds like the band is launching into "London Calling". The song itself is brief and a bit repetitive, but solid enough for all that. 

"Nancy Whiskey" falls flat.  Vocalist Martha DeFreest just doesn't generate any energy or dynamic variation.  The rest of Fire On McGinnis is holding back throughout the song, and it shows.  Little is held back on the instrumental "Catharsis", creating an interesting mix of Celtic and melodic rock.  Violin and guitar take the leads here, and DeFreest is particularly fluent on the fiddle, even the lead guitar occasionally drowns out part of his lines.  "Wild Rover" finds Fire On McGinnis conflicted.  This is a raucous tune, a state that vocalist DeFreest just doesn't seem able to achieve.  The backing vocals want to break out and go a bit crazy, but there's always that feel that the band needs to hold back so the vocals can be heard.  Even the interdiction of The Surfaris' "Wipeout" is a bit too laid back.  Fire On McGinnis stays stuck in this rut until the closing number, "Seaforth Lullabye" At first listen you might think it's a fairly standard bagpipe piece.  But slip on your headphones and listen again.  It's a trip.

Fire On McGinnis is a band of competent musicians who enjoy what they do.  The group is held back by a vocalist who has an interesting voice, but has neither the power, the pizzazz nor the vocal tone to successfully lead a band in a commercial environment.  A's for effort all around, but as currently configured; Fire On McGinnis is best suited to a loud bar on a Saturday night.  The band may well be capable of more, but have become so used to holding themselves back it will be a hard habit to break.

Rating: 2 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Fire On McGinnis at www.fireonmcginnis.com or www.myspace.com/fireonmcginnis.  Fire On McGinnis is available from Amazon.com on CD and as a Download.  The album is also available on iTunes.

Dropkick Murphys - Going Out In Style

Dropkick Murphys - Going Out In Style
2011, Born & Bred Records/ILG

Dropkick Murphys return in 2011 with their seventh studio album, Going Out In Style, playing once again on their trademark mix of Celtic punk and alternative rock that owes at least a nod to The Pogues.  The Boston-based septet goes to the wall again and again with great story-telling and vibrant arrangements born of working class struggle.  There's even a guest appearance by The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen.

"Hang 'Em High" is a powerful and rambunctious opener full of warrior spirit.  It's easy to see this one becoming a concert favorite with its energy and musicality.  "Going Out In Style" is modern twist on the classic drinking tune, advocating facing the end with distilled dignity.  "The Hardest Mile" is a commemoration of hard working Irish immigrants who worked themselves into the ground to help build America.  Dropkick Murphys imbue this one with tremendous energy in a joyous celebration of shared history.  "Cruel" explores the things we can't take back in a story about a rebellious, angry childhood that turns into parental alienation.  The narrator looks back on it all now from a time when amends can no longer be made and regrets.  Things get a little bland on "Memorial Day", but the band recovers quickly.

"Climbing A Chair To Bed" is another drinking song, of sorts.  This one has it all: great picking, great pipes and energy galore.  It's danceable, drinkable and wild.  "Broken Hymns" comes back to earth in an ode to soldiers who fought they could never win (or even survive).  It's a heartfelt memorial that's dark, yet heartfelt and stirring.  "Take 'Em Down" sounds like a union anthem, full of a virulent anger and energy that you simply cannot ignore.  "Sunday Hardcore Matinee" is a tribute of another fashion, recalling the great rock and roll shows of youth and how they never really lose their allure.  This is great, high-energy rock and roll.

"1953" is a tribute of sorts, although the point is painted on opaque lens.  Dropkick Murphys paint an aural picture of a bright, snowy December Day and a love story but leaves the important details just out of reach.  Bruce Springsteen adds his vocal talents to "Peg 'O My Heart", an upbeat love song played with energy and panache.  Going Out In Style does, with a raucous tribute to a ship in the form of "The Irish Rover".  This one is full of tongue-in-cheek exaggeration and humor, and is a highly entertaining way to say goodnight.

Dropkick Murphys never fail to entertain with great songwriting/storytelling and high energy arrangements that get stuck in your noggin.  Going Out In Style is no different.  There are a couple of songs here that don't quite keep pace, but on the whole it's a very strong album worth sticking around for.  Dropkick Murphys bring everything they have, whether to the stage or the studio.  Even when a particular song misses (not that this happens often), the effort is worth tuning in for.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Dropkick Murphys at www.dropkickmurphys.com or www.myspace.com/dropkickmurphys.  Going Out In Style is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available from iTunes.

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: Nightmare River Band - Call The Cops!!

Nightmare River Band - Call The Cops!!
2009, Nightmare River Band

“We are The Nightmare River Band, and we are coming to your town whether you like it or not.” This is the quote that closes the brief bio on Nightmare River Band’s web page, and it is very revealing of the band. Call it moxie, chutzpah, cajones, or what else you might, Nightmare River Band succeeds on musicality, but makes it work by getting your face and turning it up a notch. Former Fire Flies Matt Krahula (vox, acoustic guitar) and Seth Faulk (drums, vox) teamed up with The Designated Drivers alumni Kris Hayes (guitar, vox) and The Freams’ “Tall” Andy Tekverk to form Nightmare River Band. The band’s debut album, Call The Cops!!, takes Celtic, Punk and Folk elements and rolls them into one dynamic ball of fun.

Call the Cops!! opens with Center Of The Earth, an Irish drinking tune with electric guitars with a dark aspect. The instrumentation and vocal harmonies are outstanding, and the exuberance level from the band is off the charts. Jeffrey Dahmer continues in the vein of drinking tunes, but the title is really a lyrical afterthought. Dreamin' is a strong Rock tune with Pogues-like energy. It sounds like Nightmare River Band had a blast recording this tune, and I bet its killer live. To top it off, Matt Krahula is in great voice here with a smooth sound and just a hint of whiskey rasp. Pictures Frames & Photographs continues the strong songwriting; the song is very musical, intelligently written and has impressive vocal harmonies.

To The Sea takes on the age-old practice of burying the dead in the ocean. This dark subject is set against a driving Punk/Celtic tune that will have you running for the pits ready to pogo the night away. Summer Sun Sets takes a disco beat, surf guitar and horns and crafts them into an emotionally tumultuous but enjoyable listen. The song Procreate has a title with significant potential, but the energy just doesn't get it there. It's decent, but the title builds an expectation that just wasn't quite met. Call The Cops!! is a fun song with a huge tableau including horns and vocal harmonies. This is a pure Pub/Bar tune and probably brings the house down live. Nightmare River Band closes with the quiet epilogue, Where Do We Go. It is a radical change from the rest of the album in both style and volume, but reflects the introspective nature of the artist once the music stops. It's a lovely tune worth sticking around for.

Call The Cops!! is a great listen. Nightmare River Band plays with great musicality in a quasi-Lo-Fi environment. The arrangements might sound a bit messy once in a while, but this is more by design than mischance; the core of the sound is the band's exuberance. There isn't a track here where it doesn't come across that Nightmare River Band thoroughly enjoys what they're doing. Even on the last track, the commitment is 100% apparent to the listener. The instrumentation on Call The Cops!! runs a bit light at times, but the gaps are filled in with strong vocal harmonies. Nightmare River Band also has a sense of humor that runs through their songs; when it's subtle and inherent in the song it works wonderfully. There are a couple of times here when it sounds like maybe they're trying to be funny or ironic; such attempts don't work quite as well as the subtle, mischievous spirit that runs through the album. Fans of Captain Tractor will love Nightmare River Band. These guys can play and sing, and they're so exuberant it rubs off on the listener. Nightmare River Band is probably best heard in a pub with a raucous Saturday night crowd, but they do an outstanding job of capturing that energy and sound on Call The Cops!! Make sure you check them out; you won't be disappointed.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Nightmare River Band at www.myspace.com/nightmareriverband. You can order a copy of Call The Cops!! Through CDBaby.

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.

Review: The Killdares - Secrets Of The Day

The Killdares - Secrets Of The Day
2008, The Killdares

The Killdares aren't quite like anyone you've heard. You like Celtic music? check. You like a big rock sound? check. Grand master violin playing? check. Screaming bagpipes? check. Wailing electric guitar? check. A lead singer on drums? Got that too. The Dallas based quintet sets hearts and minds atwitter with their mind blowing mix of sounds and styles both in the studio and on stage. Traditional Celtic fans even fall in line for a Killdares show. On their fifth independent release, Secrets Of The Day, The Killdares even add a dark electronic element to their sound. It's an expansion on rather than a deviation from their sound. Prepare to be blown away.

The Killdares mix of Celtic and Rock is unusual but not unique. Several bands have done so over the years, most notably The Pogues, who mixed Celtic and Punk quite nicely. Other fine examples include Captain Tractor, Spirit Of The West, Great Big Sea and Seven Nations. If you enjoy any of these groups then there's a strong likelihood you'll love the Killdares. Rip-roaring bagpipes, searing violin and the strong vocals of Tim Smith make everything the Killdares touch turn to gold. Secrets Of The Day opens with Seasons, a strong, steady rocker with a memorable melody and great hooks. Closer Than You Know brings a big guitar sound and a delicious duet between pipes (Matt Willis) and violin (Roberta Rast). This song will get you moving in a big way and is likely to be a big time concert favorite.

Hold My Heart is a rock ballad with Celtic heritage and crunchy guitars. The Killdares just have this knack for creating very catchy arrangements that make you want to get up and dance. Long Island High is a must for jig fans. Irish jigs to a Rock N Roll beat -- need I say more? Be sure to check out Disappear, one of the more introspective and beautiful songs on the album. It's followed up by Along Came You, a delicious musical construct that leaves the listener picturing a lone horse and rider crossing a plain from the far horizon to here. The melody of Along Came You is inspired; it's a rock ballad that will be major mix tape material and has a great pipes solo to boot. Secrets Of The Day may just be my favorite song on the album. Guitar, pipes and violin intertwine to build a driving rock song that you won't be able to get out of your head. Other highlights include Glasgow, Push, Speak To Me and Rose De Lay.

The Killdares are the sort of band that do not come along often. The marriage of traditional Celtic style and Rock N Roll is a powerful one when done right, and the Killdares are definitely doing it right. They are an exciting band to listen on CD; I can't even imagine the intensity of a live show, but I bet its worth the time and money. Secrets Of The Day is a monster disc. It's a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc, and a must for fans of Celtic music or Rock N Roll. Don't pass this one by.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

To learn more about the Killdares check out http://www.killdares.com/, where you can purchase a physical copy or a download of Secrets Of The Day.