Here is one fun interview I did with musician Steven Hawson over the weekend. This has a better quality than the first take we did. I like the way he clearly explains his ideas about music and how to stay motivated in the midst of the changes that’s been happening in the music industry. It’s really crazy how things have changed in the past ten years. Anyone can make a lucrative way of living as an artist if he/she knows where to market the art.
He also tells me about writing and performing music because that’s how things are. Being a musician is all about that and the rest follow. It is a condition where there is no cure but to just do it. I invite you to listen, learn something from his experience and if possible give your own ideas under the thread. This will benefit musicians and fans of the musical culture.
When I stumble upon a fantastic band with something to show I don’t hesitate. I get my iPad and blog away! Time is of the essence and people need to know. I like how the band Creeds Cross are stomping their way into our musical consciousness with their own style of Paddy Rock(the fusion of Rock and Traditional with a twist). I think this music is geared towards the weekend crowd when all you want to do is listen to great tunes and party. Music is a community affair and people from across generations know this. The style and volume might have changed over the years, but the essence is still the same.
The music video is very attractive as it focuses on the essence of what it is to be a band playing great Irish tunes in a contemporary arrangement. Being a fan of rock music myself, I can really spot the authenticity in their attitude. And the other part of me who celebrates the beauty of Irish music thinks this is a fantastic find. A musical pot of gold.
This is just a taster of what,s to come from the band. This song is from the
new album “Gods & Fighting Men Out on worldwide release March 3rd. The first single is called The Irish Band. I enjoyed every bit of that song!
The Journey So Far (The Best of Loreena McKennitt) might initially make you think that it is another compilation album. It is indeed a collection of her best songs spanning a career which started in the mid-80s. I listened to the double CD and there are tracks that have been altered. There are songs that get shortened. For example, the Lady of Shallot which is originally more than ten minutes has been trimmed to just above four minutes.
There are also new arrangements of album tracks like in the case of The Old Ways. The sound of drums and other instruments have been removed while others are thrown in front of the mix. Still, there are more songs in The Journey So Far that are different from what you originally heard in the album versions. I am glad for the inclusion of The Mummer’s Dance(radio edit) and other singles.
My personal favorite is a different take on Full Circle( from The Mask and the Mirror) in which though maintaining her powerful singing, the CODA has a rhythmic, almost reggae feel. Though there are those who might find contentment in their old McKennitt collections, new as well as die-hard fans will definitely enjoy this album.
The selling point in all her releases is always her amazing voice. Check out her live songs and you will know that she can carry a tune with exquisite technique inside and outside of the studio. There are many musicians who can reach her vocal range but to have an amazing technique within an already fascinating voice is a rare gift.
You can buy the album in different formats including the delicious vinyl through her Quinlan Road store:
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.
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.
Celtic Music Fan 