Archive for the ‘Original Music’ Category
Review: The Skels’ Any Port In A Storm
On June 20, 2008 in Original Music, Pub/Drinking Music, Punk, reviews
Like most of my favorite Celtic punk bands, I first heard The Skels on Shite ‘n Onions on Live365. After hearing Have A Drink Ya’ Bastards I decided that I absolutely had to have at least one of their CDs. It took a few months for me to get around to actually ordering it, but I finally got my copy of Any Port In A Storm, and I love it! The Skels are a perfect blending of Celtic tradition and modern (but not pop) punk. All the songs on this disc are original, and packed with attitude.Chris Freid’s lead vocals are not what you would call smooth. But I love it. Not only his voice, but his attitude suits the band’s punchy music straight down to the ground. I can’t imagine their sound with anyone else in the lead.
I don’t know how the songs are written (individually, collectively, drunk, sober), but the lyrics always crack me up either with their humor or their audacity, and the music itself always makes me want to get up and dance. Wild and drunken style dancing, but dance nevertheless.
I should say that most of The Skels’ songs give me a much appreciated shot of energy. Come Hell Or High Water is actually a beautiful song, calm and wistful. A song like this in a more traditional Celtic band could make a name for the singer.
This isn’t the best cd to play if you’re at work, unless your co-workers are fairly easy going. I can guarantee you that if there’s a prim and proper person nearby, the first thing they’ll hear is the line “balls to your partner, your ass against the wall” (Pauper’s Grave). I can’t tell you how many times it’s happened to me.
If you already love bands in the Celtic Punk genre, absolutely give them a try. If you’re fairly new to the genre, take a listen first. This ain’t no wishy-washy won’t-offend-anyone kind of band.
For a quick taste of the Skel’s music, click here for their MySpace page. Currently, you can even listen to Pauper’s Grave which is my current favorite of their songs.
Or, better yet! Download the MP3s from Amazon:
Enter The Haggis Review: Soapbox Heroes
On January 19, 2008 in Original Music, World music, reviews
This album was originally reviewed in October 2007. The URL has changed along with BandVox’s new format. Please adjust your bookmarks.
As with many of the bands that I review here, I first heard Enter The Haggis on Shite ‘n Onions. For months, their album Soapbox Heroes sat on my wishlist. I was about to finally order the CD, along with several others when I found that Enter The Haggis would be playing nearby. Excellent! So I saved up the cash for another two weeks, and headed off to the Celtic Fling. Not only did I get one of the best CDs ever, but I got to see this amazing band live.
While ETH is heavily influenced by world beats, they have an equally strong footing in Celtic and folk sounds. Their opening song Lancaster Gate is a very modern bagpipe tune. If you’re familiar with the band Off Kilter, this song will sound like home. It has a more modern, rocky sound than Off Kilter’s music, but is similar enough that celtophiles should be immediately drawn to it. By contrast, No More Stones has a strong country rock tone. Normally, I despise country, but these boys can turn common rocks into gems. Cynical carries over the celtic overtones and is also where the name of the album comes from( And we’re so lazy/we’re soapbox heroes/and we’ve got so much to say ).
Marti’s Last Stand and One Last Drink are strong in celtic theming (the first being a pascifist who’s forced into battle, and could apply to any person in any war, though it may be about a specific person- the second is about an old man who refuses to die until morning so he can have one last celebration).
Normally I abhore any song that makes me cry, but ETH’s The Barfly is so stirring that it really stands out on its own, and I won’t turn it off no matter how the tears fall. It’s about an old man and how he lost his wife and two daughters. While both daughters are still alive, one has moved far away and never contacts him, while the other lost her own husband, and hasn’t spoken since. There may be piano music in the rest of the album, I haven’t noticed it, but in The Barfly it really stands out and underscores the mood of the song.
This is an excellent CD. Very clean and professional without losing an ounce of individuality. The varied influences make Enter The Haggis popular with fans of many genres, though more particularly with fans of Celtic music. I highly recommend Soapbox Heroes, and am anxiously awaiting their next album.