Customer Reviews

Ashley Macisaac

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I find Ashley MacIsaac's new self-titled CD to be excellent. While he may dash the expectations of those who want him to repeat his previous work, he continues to smash categorization and come up with a great set of traditional Breton-style fiddle/rock fusion. One of my two very favorite tracks is "Lay Me Down" where Ashley's singing is impassioned on this rocking romantic smash, "You are my sun, my moon, my stars, forever yours, forever free, together as one, the world is ours; you are my destiny." I'm wearing out the repeat button this classic love song! My other favorite is also by the same writing team of Rick Guard & Stan Rice with Ashley's vocals powerfully front and center; "I Don't Need This" is fast flowing rock propulsion with Ashley particularly spitting out the lyric, "I could do without your verbal & I'm meeting someone herbal & you better not bring me tea." Nick Drake's "Cello Song" is a smooth opener with Ashley's fiddle performing stratospheric pyrotechnics. Ashley uses some female guest vocalists which gives nice variety to this set: Lisa MacIsaac on "Save Me From Tomorrow," Mary Jane Lamond doing a sprightly Gaelic chorus on "To America We Go," and Lara Gray on "This Is My Father." It was a PBS segment that made me aware of Ashley's new CD. It was interesting to hear that he is gay, about his great love of music, and the creation of this CD. The songs nearer the beginning seem stronger to me, but the musicianship is superlative throughout. This is one will be stuck in my changer this summer! Enjoy!

Ashley's new album is brilliant! Many people who love Ashley's music may not understand it right away, because it's not as traditional as some of his other work. However, anyone who loves great music will love this album, because it has something for everybody. It's got plenty of amazing Fiddle music very much in the Cape Bretton tradition, its just masked by other fantastic elements. There are more Gaelic songs on this album the others (I think). there are traditional songs, with a new and amazing twist. Mary Jane Lammond appears on the album, so it's worth it just for that. also, Ashley does a lot of singing on the new album, and his voice is very interesting. not to mention that he tells us who he really is in this album, and you have to commend him for that. so, I say BUY THIS ALBUM! You just may learn something!

Growing up, my father listened to Irish music on a local AM station. Many of the songs were dirges. Others seemed to talk only about mother (not that there is anything wrong with Irish mothers) or the merits of joining the Irish Republican Army. I decided that I hated Irish music, until the Riverdance craze and a visit to Ireland. Then I became an Irish music purist and only enjoyed true Celtic music. Ashley MacIsaac seems to be able to combine the Celtic music I would like with the catchiness of the Irish music my father would enjoy in a well balanced compilation of Celtic-American music. Ashley MacIsaac's self titled CD certainly puts new life in Celtic music. He plays a mean fiddle and is a good vocalist as well. His music is catchy and would be at home in an Irish pub or an American watering hole. The opening song "Cello Song" sets the gritty Celtic tone of the album. The Gaelic words of "To America We Go" show the authenticity of the music. Even his remake of the often tired "Mull of Kintyre" is refreshing. The lyrics of most of his songs seem more at home in North America than Ireland, but this is not a fault. If anything, it shows the ways in which Celtic music is a major influence the world over.

I can see why the purists who liked AM for his traditional instrumentals were taken aback by this album. But listen again. What draws me, a relatively new listener, to it is precisely the combo of energetic fiddle with alternative rock voice and lyrics. I think it is a sensational combination.

I picked up AM's new CD after checking out his Web site. I have "Hi How Are You Today" and I actually like this new one as much or even better. He's obviously pushing some personal musical boundries with, for me, fantastic results. I was a little dubious about the singing (Leo Kotke's made me forever suspicious of instrumentalists who decide to sing) but is voice is terrific. Paired with his sister on "Cello Song" he gives us an upbeat, lyrical opener, followed by a more mellow, downbeat "Lay Me Down." His voice is strong, on pitch--often the downfall of non-professional singers--and has a cool, kind of "Psychedelic Furs" edge to it. "I Don't Need This" could easily be a top 40 song if he had a good publicist--it's one to sing along to and you can really relate to the lyrics. There are a couple instrumental pieces ("Chorus Jig/King's Reel" ends as a real foot-stomper) and the other singers on the album add some diversity to his sound. If you're just looking for Breton fiddle music, this isn't it. But if you're looking for fine folk/rock with a Celtic flavor from a young musician finding his voice and pushing boundaries, you won't be disappointed. MacIsaac's new disc is already in my "frequently played" stack of CDs.

I heard about Ashley from a review on NPR and decided to take a gamble. It was no gamble, it was like winning the lottery. A great blend of Irish Pop, SKA, Rockabilly and lord knows where else he gets it from. One of the most intense and irreverant artist to come down the pike in a long time. This is the first in what will be a large collection for me.

I can see why the purists who liked AM for his traditional instrumentals were taken aback by this album. But listen again. What draws me, a relatively new listener, to it is precisely the combo of energetic fiddle with alternative rock voice and lyrics. I think it is a sensational combination.

This is not anything like "Hi, How Are You Today?" or "Helter's Celtic." Ashley said he was trying to make his new album similar to the soundtrack to "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" To him, this probably seemed like a good way to sell CDs, but to the listener it means annoyingly out of place mandolins and drums that sound like they belong in Branson, Missouri. It reminds me of the songs on his older CDs that I'd always skip like "What an Idiot He Is" and "Whiz Kids," but even those have more charm than this. In my opinion, the only songs worth hearing on this album are "To America We Go" and "This is My Father," and neither or them are anything to write home about.

This album isn't necessarily bad, it just lacks virtually all of the redeeming qualities that were in his other experimental/fusion endeavors. That doesn't mean it doesn't have its own good points, but I'll leave you to find them. I gave up.

Thank God for independent radio--in this case Manao Radio in Maui--because that's where I discovered Ahsley MacIsaac. This album is exceptional. I have quit coffee and now listen to this in the morning. Solid and unique Irish rock with great fiddle, voice, and heart.

Growing up, my father listened to Irish music on a local AM station. Many of the songs were dirges. Others seemed to talk only about mother (not that there is anything wrong with Irish mothers) or the merits of joining the Irish Republican Army. I decided that I hated Irish music, until the Riverdance craze and a visit to Ireland. Then I became an Irish music purist and only enjoyed true Celtic music. Ashley MacIsaac seems to be able to combine the Celtic music I would like with the catchiness of the Irish music my father would enjoy in a well balanced compilation of Celtic-American music. Ashley MacIsaac's self titled CD certainly puts new life in Celtic music. He plays a mean fiddle and is a good vocalist as well. His music is catchy and would be at home in an Irish pub or an American watering hole. The opening song "Cello Song" sets the gritty Celtic tone of the album. The Gaelic words of "To America We Go" show the authenticity of the music. Even his remake of the often tired "Mull of Kintyre" is refreshing. The lyrics of most of his songs seem more at home in North America than Ireland, but this is not a fault. If anything, it shows the ways in which Celtic music is a major influence the world over.