Customer Reviews

Another Day

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Like Solas' three previous albums, "Another Day" is a wonderful collection of traditional Irish tunes, original songs, and artfully done covers performed by a band whose Celtic chops are as sharp as ever. While some listeners may argue that Solas' forays into other genres is an abandonment of their Irish roots or a waste of their talent, this is simply not true. Solas is testament to the fact that truly great bands (e.g. the Beatles, U2) do not stand still. The jigs, reels, and Celtic language tunes included on "Another Day" clearly show that Solas still remains firmly rooted in Irish traditional music. But the orginal tunes and covers on the album are evidence of a band that is not afraid to take risks and push the bounds of traditional music. There are plenty of groups that will play jigs, reels, and hornpipes all day long. There are few bands, however, that can blend many different musical elements as effectively as Solas does on "Another Day" (and their previous three CDs for that matter). And when they do launch in to a set of traditional tunes, it's clear that Solas is among the best in the world.

Maybe people of a different audience are hearing Solas for the first time, and there is a connection. My blessings. Seamus and Winnifred are immense musical talents and artists need to be true to their own heart. However, the new connection may also signal a connection with longtime Irish Traditional Music fans decreasing. I read the reviews,and then I listen to the music.
I don't hear John Doyle bouncing through incredible guitar chord arrangements. I don't hear Karen Casey's golden voice. The old formula that worked was high energy, snappy, toe tapping tracks followed by Karen's eyes shut, heartfelt melodies. Solas is simply a different group now after Karen and John left. The first album after the change, "Edge of Silence," seemed to signal a change of directions toward US music (Seamus now lives in the U.S.). A good comparison is "Wiggly Jigs," which would previously lead fans to expect real wiggle. Compare to the earliar "Sprogle Set." There is a real contrast between this album and their first three pioneering albums and DVD. The same energy can be heard in Liz Carrol's last two albums with John Doyle. My advice to anyone interested in hearing Solas at top form to try their early works. If the band wants to recapture its former loyal following, it needs someone bouncing to the beat and flat picking chords in fast paced arm swings like John and percussion. The old formula worked well and could work again.

"Another Day" sees Solas return pretty much to form after a rather wayward previous album "The Edge of Silence" where their traditional side took a backward step and the arrangements were lacklustre.

The medley of reels "Bird In The Tree" which opens this album is a real rip-snorter - full, powerful and very Irish, setting the tone for an album which grabs the attention pretty consistently, with confident arrangements and performances. Again the compositions are a mix of traditional and non-traditional, but the overall style of the playing veers more towards the traditional this time. The songs are all sweetly performed by Deidre Scanlan and include Dan Fogelberg's "Scarecrow's Dream", Kieran Goss's "All That You Ask Me", Dougie Maclean's "This Love Will Carry" and a traditional Gaelic "Maire Mhills Bhrea". The instrumentals have plenty of zip and include traditional and original tunes.

There's quite a lot to enjoy here and the sound is very rich and finely crafted, but for those demanding a more traditional, more Irish sound, go to their first three or four albums, which, despite having a rougher-edged sound, are in my opinion more involving.

There's no filler here, just one great song after another. Particularly remarkable is Winifred Horan's consistently lovely fiddling -- what a beautiful, rich tone! Her song, The Highlands of Holland (good title!), has a klezmer-like sweetness and bounce that keeps me coming back to it.

Considering that "Solas" means light, "Dorchadas" (darkness) would be a better name for this album. The energy, passion, variety and virtuosity of earlier albums are almost completely absent here. Instead we get a series of almost indistinguishable, dirge-like songs with little or no Celtic flavor. This is a real downer of an album. If you haven't heard Solas before and want to check them out, skip this album and listen instead to the earlier ones, especially "Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers."

The lilting vocals coupled with the energetic instruments provide a wonderful mindscape to listen to. Seoladh Na Naamha and Maire Mhilis Bhrea enchanting and full of life and always puts me in a good mood.
On the whole, a great C.D. to add to any sort of collection you happen to have!

Today in a music store, I happened to stop at a listening station, pick up the earphones, and begin listening to this CD, having never before heard of Solas. I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of the music-- instruments, voices, lyrics, arrangements. The album has a great mix of traditional and more modern. At least a half hour must have gone by. I kept looking around guiltily to make sure nobody was waiting for a turn with the earphones; my feet got weary from standing there so long, but I could not pull myself away. Track 7, "All That You Ask Me" was so exquisitely beautiful that it made me cry and I just had to share it with someone. I turned around and asked a surprised stranger to listen to it, pleased to pass along the earphones, and the good news about this gem of a group. I can't wait to hear more Solas albums. What a find!

I have liked Solas since 2002, and even interviewed them last year (read it on my Web site, ScottyWZ.COM). Now, I decided to use this oppritunity to comment on the band as a whole. There have been people saying stuff like "The sound of a band going apart" and "they are getting worse with each album." I sort of agree with the latter, because they could do better. In my interview, they said that they basically play traditional Irish music and also some contemporary music. I think they need to add some more traditional Irish music into the pot. I currently have a copy of Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers (1997), The Words That Remain (1998), The Edge of Silence (2002), Another Day (2003), and Waiting for an Echo (2005). They certainly don't need to replace any members, but they do need to play some more Irish music.

As a musician, I enjoy playing original music whether its celtic, bluegrass, blues, etc. After a while you start to feel like a big kareoke machine. You need to open the door and let the breeze of other influences flow into your music. This is exactly what Solas has done. A bunch of GREAT musicians playing a nice mix of pleasing melodies. Dixie Checks? Don't think so.

It's sad to see a band with this much talent play a bunch of poppish songs that sound like rejects from singer/songwriters or the Dixie Chicks. You'd really never know this was an Irish band. I'll be trying to unload this CD ASAP.