To Hell Or Barbados

Damien Dempsey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: United For Opportunity
• ASIN: B000QEILJ2
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,874 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

NME

"...a singer-songwriter who... can rip your heart in two...brilliant"

"...Ireland's Bob Dylan"

"It's angry, it's humorous, it's great music, it's great lyrics.... He's similar to me as a songwriter.... He sees the beauty that is Ireland and that is Ireland's past and that can be Ireland's future...."

Product Description

Dublin singer/songwriter Damien Dempsey - "Damo" to fans - embodies the passion of Ireland's rich history and politics with his personal tales about life and love all captured on his latest release To Hell or Barbados out on the United For Opportunity label.

His fourth release, To Hell or Barbados shows development and incredible maturity from this exceptional artist, who returns with a new and very contemporary sounding album as the follow-up to Shots (UFO) - recognized by Paste Magazine as #36 on the "Top 100 albums of 2006." A variety of musical styles from rock, folk, reggae, and even electronica combine to make Dempsey's most accomplished album yet.

A true man of the people in Ireland, and always looking to sing Irish issues into the hearts of the rest of the world, Dempsey's upcoming release and title track, "To Hell Or Barbados" refers to Oliver Cromwell's campaign against Ireland in the mid 1600s, during which many Irish were deported and sent as slave labor to Bermuda and Barbados.

Ever a storyteller, Damo's songs as always pull no lyrical punches. In "Serious" we hear a two-way conversation with a drug dealer trying to tempt a potential client ⎯ or is it between a man and conscience? The electronica track "The City" is Damien's homage to his hometown of Dublin, while we see Damien's lighter side in the radio-friendly "Your Pretty Smile" and his trademark positivity in "Chase the Light", "How Strange" and "Summer's in My Heart". Opening track "Maasai", with its incredible vocal delivery is about the ancient tribes and their warrior spirit. Dublin singer/songwriter Damien Dempsey - "Damo" to fans - embodies the passion of Ireland's rich history and politics with his personal tales about life and love all captured on his latest release To Hell or Barbados, out June 26 digitally and July 3 nationally on United For Opportunity.

His fourth release, To Hell or Barbados shows development and incredible maturity from this exceptional artist, who returns with a new and very contemporary sounding album as the follow-up to Shots (UFO) - recognized by Paste Magazine as #36 on the "Top 100 albums of 2006." A variety of musical styles from rock, folk, reggae, and even electronica combine to make Dempsey's most accomplished album yet.

A true man of the people in Ireland, and always looking to sing Irish issues into the hearts of the rest of the world, Dempsey's upcoming release and title track, "To Hell Or Barbados" refers to Oliver Cromwell's campaign against Ireland in the mid 1600s, during which many Irish were deported and sent as slave labor to Bermuda and Barbados.

Ever a storyteller, Damo's songs as always pull no lyrical punches. In "Serious" we hear a two-way conversation with a drug dealer trying to tempt a potential client ⎯ or is it between a man and conscience? The electronica track "The City" is Damien's homage to his hometown of Dublin, while we see Damien's lighter side in the radio-friendly "Your Pretty Smile" and his trademark positivity in "Chase the Light", "How Strange" and "Summer's in My Heart". Opening track "Maasai", with its incredible vocal delivery is about the ancient tribes and their warrior spirit.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How You Illuminate My Shadowed Sight - Damien Dempsey, November 22, 2007

By 

Cherise Everhard (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Hell Or Barbados (Audio CD)

My first introduction to Damien Dempsey was this past October at the Keswick Theater in Pennsylvania. He opened for Sinead O'Connor and from the first song I was blown away. After his set he was signing his CD's in the lobby and my friend encouraged me to go buy his CD and get his autograph. I am so glad I did. I bought two of his CD's that night, this one and Shots. To Hell or Barbados has been in my CD player since. I love this CD so much that I haven't wanted to take it out to listen to the other one.

This Irish fella does not make traditional Irish music. I can't categorize the type of music he does make as each song has its own flavor. All I can say is the sound is beautiful and fresh and this CD is a wonderful combination of melodies and lyrics. There are songs that have a reggae beat, one that has sort of a club or techno feel. There is not a clutter of sounds and vocals, no complex jumbled studio mixes as the majority of songs the focus is himself and his guitar.

Some of my favorite songs:

To Hell or Barbados - The title was taken from the book of the same name To Hell or Barbados: The Ethnic Cleansing of Irelan by Sean O'Callaghan. It is about Oliver Cromwell's conquest in Ireland and the sending of over 50,000 Irish men, women and children to Barbados as slaves. The subject matter of this song is so tragic, but the song itself is so lovely. It is my favorite song and when it's finished playing, I always listen a second time. His vocals, the words, the Uillean Pipes and the melody on this song give me chills. How he can turn a subject so horrible into a song so beautiful is a testament to his talent.

Your Pretty Smile - This is an upbeat tune with a reggae feel. It's impossible not to smile when he sings this song; it is definitely a feel good song.

The City - His tribute to the city where he was raised, Dublin. It has a beat and music you'd hear in the clubs, fast and dance worthy, but his voice flows over the music, slowly, almost at odds with the song, but it works. At one point there is a portion of the song where he speaks about the city, a verse of poetry, while the music maintains its pace.

All the songs on this CD are beyond wonderful each having a unique feel and I simply love this whole album. I wish I were more eloquent but I really think words can't accurately describe his music; it's something one has to experience to fully understand and appreciate it. I am glad I bought it, I just hope to be able to switch it out of my CD player for his other one someday. :) For me this is quite possibly a flawless CD, he's a poet with a powerful voice and range, armed with an acoustic guitar. Perfect.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true stand-out, September 4, 2007

By 

B. Hogan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Hell Or Barbados (Audio CD)

Once you hear Damien Dempsey sing you realize you have heard something special. He has the amazing ability to convey a huge range of emotion in simply the tone of his strong voice. He flavors the cd with different sounds ranging from reggae to celtic-folk and even edgier middle eastern sounds as on "Masaai." The liner notes are wonderful as well because he gives you historical context to the songs of Irish history as well as defines some terms that many people may not understand.

With each release (and they are all worth having) he continues to develop himself as the leading voice in modern irish singers while also carving himself a spot in history. Buy this and enjoy!!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the best album yet of 2007, and Damo's best., August 4, 2007

By 

Lowlight (SC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Hell Or Barbados (Audio CD)

The default review above is a good summary of this album and I won't waste time repeating what it said, but I did want to add that the title track of this album is easily the most powerful and haunting track I've heard all year. It's the kind of almost painfully emotive work, raw and honest in it's intention and execution, that is so rare these days.

If you aren't familiar with Damien's work, this is a great place to start, although his previous albums are all absolutely amazing. Once you've discovered him, you'll kick yourself for not having done so earlier and you'll wonder why it is that more Americans haven't discovered his incredible work.

This album, like his others, is highly recommended.