albums

Enjoying This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things by Barleyjuice

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When I write a post about an album I am usually stuck in my bedroom relishing every divine note that comes out of each speaker. Today I did something different. I took the album with me as I made my way across the city, relishing the atmosphere of productivity and randomness. Guess what. It made a big difference. There are two types of music: Private and public. Celtic rock is always the ‘out there’ kind of music. Such energy has to be unleashed and I think that’s what all the guys in the band want. They want listeners to enjoy themselves while listening to the music.

There is no slowing the down the creative guys behind the Barleyjuice. I like the sound of the new album This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things.I know what to expect and so much more. Yes there are differences as well as evolution of their music but it is still them: energetic, catchy and utterly exciting.

The album has ten original songs. Most of them are rock oriented. With the exception of Lost On a Foggy Afternoon which I think is their finest instrumental track. It’s magical and very visual. Parish Jig is also fantastic.

Sheets to the Wind (part1)”Let’s go down to Whiskey Town”… is my favorite because of the vocals and the fiddle. I can listen to it the whole week and I can’t imagine getting tired of it. This is my ‘mainstream top 40’ kind of tune. I am not surprise if this song makes it to college radio one of these days.

This is not to say that the rest aren’t as good as this song. It really depends upon your mood. And this one happens to be played while I was out and about. So it captures that spirit. This album has elements of punk, ska, pop and folk. It has things that you will love. It’s like Bailey’s on a cool Friday night.

Barleyjuice performs St. Patrick’s Day from their latest CD     “THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS”

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Press release from Barleyjuice:

 

BARLEYJUICE

Officially Releases Seventh Album

“THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS”

To tour US and Ireland

 

While on the road for three years performing their critically acclaimed album, ‘Skulduggery Street’, Barleyjuice managed to record a new collection of music along the way.  They are now officially releasing their seventh album ‘THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS’. With the start of the New Year they are ready to bring their brand of excitement back to the stage.

 

In an article for the Irish Voice, writer Mike Farragher noted “The band’s shows are the stuff of fiery, sweaty folklore, with beer splashing, glasses clinking and arms flailing. These new songs will be more fodder for the proverbial musical cannon, right from the opening number.”

 

On how the album, got its name and the direction they chose, Band lead singer Kyf Brewer says, “We were in the van on the road to somewhere, where a multitude of apt and clever sayings were being bandied back and forth. When it [the title] got a chuckle from [band mate] Swanny, we knew it was meant to be. There’s no conceptual thread to these songs. Really just more of what we do best, done better. We’re at the point with the band where the only challenge left is to write a new song that’s as good as the last favorite without sounding too much like it!  Same with the covers. Just keep the creative edge sharp.”

 

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things is Barleyjuice’s  contains ten new songs from band members Kyf Brewer, Keith Swanson, and Eric Worthington and two covers from Gillian Welch, Mike Nesmith, Carole King and Jerry Goffin.

 

 

To purchase the CD online: http://www.barleyjuice.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=93

 

For additional INFO on the band: http://www.barleyjuice.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barleyjuice/41027006339

The Otherworldly Appeal of Under a Red Night Sky by Martin Tourish

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Martin Tourish is back with an album that promises to enchant and enrich the soul with historical content in twelve artfully crafted tracks.

I compare the experience to watching a UFO land. The beautiful album cover alone ( orange, red , black and a bird silhouette ) is telling. Under a Red Night Sky also presents the involvement of Tim Edey and the technical talent of Alexis Nealon who engineered and mastered this superb recording. I checked out the list of artists in the liner notes and I give it a two thumbs up. Or even three.

It’s an eclectic mix of traditional melodies, classical influences and samples from music archives that showcase the stories behind the tunes. In my dark bedroom, it seems as if the ceiling opens up to reveal a wild, fantastic and beautifully scary world that is inhabited by primal emotions. This album is very visual.

It is easy to get lost in the beautiful music of Martin Tourish whom I wrote about more than a year ago, highlighting his achievements (being able to perform with legendary personalities including NASA astronaut Cady Coleman). Under a Red Night Sky is a testament to his sophisticated command of technique and composition.

It is hard to choose my favorite tracks out of the twelve because, each tune has its story to tell. Variation on a Theme from a James Tourish Collection (track 6)is a favorite due to its emphasis on nuance and atmosphere. I also love Imagined Communities because it features  John Doherty’s voice which enhances the ambience. The other stand out track for me is Horseman, Pass By. It is the last track in the album. Being alone in the dark and listening to this gives me goosebumps. You know what they say about the curtain between the physical world and the unseen becomes thin- it’s exactly the feeling I have.

Under a Red Night Sky plays like a good fantasy/historical/sci-fi novel. You don’t want to miss a chapter. All the meticulous love for detail of talents involved in the making of this album are evident as you listen again and again. It is something you can listen to ten years from now and realize how timeless and beautiful it is.

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Sharon Corr Sings:We Could Be Lovers from “The Same Sun.”

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I’ve just finished watching the new music video by the ‘other sister’ of The Corrs, Sharon Corr. It’s called We Could Be Lovers. I got insomnia and instead of being useless, I decided to open my laptop and see what the rave is all about. I admit I was thinking this post should go to my other blog because the song is more pop than Celtic. But The Corrs have always been pop even though they introduced Traditional Irish music in their subsequent albums. I was expecting to see her playing the fiddle in this video but I know that she doesn’t need to prove that. What she is trying to prove is that she can actually sing. And she has a beautiful voice!

The video features Corr in a sultry image trying to seduce a ‘tamed’ Irish guy. The lyrics show that longing for the possibility to be in a relationship with someone who seems to be preoccupied with his goals in life and has little time for intimacy. But in the end of the video, our beautiful Irish chanteuse proves that she wins. The track has that bouncy folk style that is acoustic guitar driven.

Of all the sisters, I find Sharon Corr to be the most attractive and sweet. It is great to see her touring and promoting the new album “The Same Sun.” American fans will get to see her perform at the Aladdin theater on February 23, courtesy of 67 Music.

Anticipation Building for The Buachaills

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Aaron Dolan – Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Vocals.

 Chris Carey – Drums , Percussion , Vocals.

 Eoin Murphy -Bouzouki, Mandolin , Guitar , Vocals.

 James Fleming – Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals.

Hometown: Cork

 

I used to plan what I post in the past. I decide what day I should post updates and what type of artist or music it should be. These days I don’t care. There are too many bands and albums out there and not enough time. I also want to point out that these albums are amazing. A lot of time and effort have been crafted in these albums. The only thing is that only few get to see the light of day and make their way into the huge pool of listeners. That is why time is of the essence. Why wait for the album release when bands can announce that they are recording something.

Usually a teaser or one song will already tell you what the band is capable of achieving in terms of craft and music. One example is Little Creatures by The Buachaills. A brief info about the track follows:

The last song on The Buachaills up-coming album “At Your Call” which features a poem from James Stephens, “Little Things”. The Buachaills are Aaron Dolan, Chris Carey, Eoin Murphy and James Fleming. The Buachaills are one of Ireland’s top folk acts blending traditional Irish music with contemporary folk/rock sounds and are the official House band of Thomond Park Stadium.

The lively beat accentuated by beautiful melodies and irresistible uilleann pipes really tell you a lot about them. It sounds so unique yet so contemporary that you can play it in your car stereo or anywhere.  

https://www.facebook.com/thebuachaills

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Eoin Murphy said that the debut album “At your call”will be released worldwide on May 10th. Good for him to tell us about it this early. Anticipation is building. This is definitely something I look forward to!

Watch Out for the Forthcoming Album by Guitar, Bouzouki Player Michael McCague

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Michael McCague in In Derry

Michael McCague:Musician, Composer, Recording Artist and Mathematics Major.

Music follows Mathematical laws. And Traditional Irish musicians like Michael McCague can attest to this. After all, he is a Mathematics major. When he is not into academic things, he plays music with his brother Donal. It’s through Donal that I discovered him. I have seen most of their videos consisting mainly of fiddle(Donal) and Guitar(Michael) duets.

His style is hypnotic and rhythmic. Although I am yet to hear his solo album, his name has been all over the traditional Irish music map.  I you haven’t heard of him, then look for recordings by the following:

Idir – by At First Light (arrangement, guitar and bouzouki)

Bits N Pieces – Donal Mc Cague (arranger, guitar, bouzouki, piano, tenor guitar)

Banjo – Stevie Dunne – (arrangement, guitar, bouzouki)

Its Not Racket Science – At The Racket (arrangement, guitar, tenor guitar, bouzouki)

Sheridan’s Guesthouse – Dave Sheridan – (arranger, bouzouki, guitar)

Edel Fox & Ronan Flaherty (guitar, bouzouki, arranger)

Idir – by At First Light (arrangement, guitar and bouzouki)
Bits N Pieces – Donal Mc Cague (arranger, guitar, bouzouki, piano, tenor guitar)
Banjo – Stevie Dunne – (arrangement, guitar, bouzouki)
Its Not Racket Science – At The Racket (arrangement, guitar, tenor guitar, bouzouki)
Sheridan’s Guesthouse – Dave Sheridan – (arranger, bouzouki, guitar)
Edel Fox & Ronan Flaherty (guitar, bouzouki, arranger)

You can also read an update about the forthcoming album through his TradConnect blog:

http://tradconnect.com/profiles/blogs/album-update

Videos with Michael playing: