Customer Reviews

Hi How Are You Today

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It rocks!!! It probably belongs more at the X-Games that your local pub (actually they love it at my Irish pub).

The music ranges from a jazzy piano opening on 'Wing-Stock' to speed-Celtic on 'Devil in the Kitchen' (you'll know what I mean when you hear it).

I heard an MP3 of 'Wing-Stock' and it absolutely blew me away. I ordered the CD right away and was ecstatic about the rest of it. It is a must buy regardless if you are looking for alternative, rock or Celtic.

If you buy this and like it check out Brigid Boden too. She is another alternative Celtic artist. If you know of any other artists playing this type of alternative/rock with a Celtic twist, please let me know!

One note of caution: Ashley's other albums are nothing like this one. They are traditional Celtic Jigs and Reels. Don't get carried away and order his whole discography until you have sampled them.

Celtic music to bug your parents with. This is probably the most hard rockin celtic album I've heard yet. Punk guitar and celtic fiddle, what a combo. Not quite as traditional as "Fine thank you very much", which I didn't care for all that much. The fiddle playing is incredible, as well as the arrangements of songs. I tend to skip the softer songs and head straight for the rockers. If I want more traditional I listen to Patrick Street or something. But that's just me though. I thought "Sleepy Maggie"'s poppy vocals were kind of annoying. And "What an idiot", well that was kind of annoying, but funny too. You don't expect it, that's for sure. I love tracks 3,4,10,11, and 12. If you like high energy rock and fiddles check it out. It's definitely a must have in any celtic-rock collection. If you like this, other good Celtic rock bands are Wolfstone, Seven Nations and Brother.

I love this record and while it's nice to have four remixes of Sleepy Maggie, the hidden track "Catherine Cries" that was on the previous edition has been left off this one!

The remastering didn't really add much as the record was mastered and mixed well to begin with.

Worth getting if you don't have it already, but don't rush to upgrade unless you really like Sleepy Maggie remixes.

...No, really, it HASN'T been done before, and there's NO real comparison to Steeleye Span or that particular form genre of folk-rock/whatever-the-[heck]-you=want-to-call-it. Ashley Mac's giving it the Nova Scotian, Cape Breton nineties trance treatment, which is NOTHING I remember from Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span. At very least, the [smartie] whose review they've chosen to post as the 'official' word on MacIsaac's artistry did give up a few points for his playing. Otherwise, it's a poor way to present what for the most part is really an original, (yes, ORIGINAL)contemporary twist put on traditional tunes.

Whatever it is. . I want more! I drive the back hill country roads with this music blaring until my soul screams for mercy. . .how do you do this to me? I don't even know you and now you are all I want to hear! I've gone off the edge, just where I like to be most all the time now. Buy this CD and you won't have many dull moments. . . but beware, you WILL go into the beyond. It is beyond the beyond. Thank you, Ashley!

. . . you still have to buy the CD! The full Ashley experience can only be had live, but this is the next best thing. When he revs his fiddle up to a fevered pitch, just imagine a whole lot of stompin' going on. Mr. MacIsaac learnt his fiddle playin' from the King of the Faeries, and the energy in this album proves it! Here you have the hit single, "Sleepy Maggie," sung in Galic but all about "sex and dancin'." And there's "The Devil in the Kitchen," a no holds barred, take no prisoners, gritty, grungy Fiddle Fest. In the middle of the album, the humor of "What An Idiot He Is" sneaks up on you; it's one of the funniest, wittiest songs I've ever heard. Point is: the album's all good. You've moshed, you've banged your head. Now learn how to stomp.

A very good CD to add to the collection of people who enjoy the combination of modern rock with the traditional sounds of the fiddle and the bagpipes. I really enjoy the CD.

Hey... my ex had this CD and recorded a bit of it for me on a mixed tape. I fell in love with Ashley... his music is so full of energy and power. It puts me in a good mood everytime I hear this CD, it brings me out of any pit I have fallen into. It is the best! I have tried to describe his music to people, and the best way I can think of is that it is Irish-Celtic-Rock-Orchestra-energy-flowing music! I sooo want to see him live! Wow, that would be the best thing to ever happen to me in my life! Wow, thanks Ashley MacIsaac!

Not every cut on this CD is a favorite of mine, but "What An Idiot He Is" is terrificly catchy. And there are only two pieces of music I've ever heard that can *reliably* bring tears of joy to my eyes: Beethoven's 9th and this CD's "Sleepy Maggie".

'Hi How Are You Today' marries heavy guitars and rock beats with traditional Nova Scotia fiddle tunes for really fun musical experience. Ashley MacIsaac's bow has got to be smoking at the end of some of these tunes. (It probably caught fire at some point during 'The Devil is in the Kitchen.')

There isn't a boring moment on the entire CD, but that particularly stand out are 'Rusty D-con-STRUCK-tion,' 'Sophia's Pipes,' and 'Wing-Stock,' all three of which run with the layered approach to music that is present in most of the tracks and take it to great heights and extremes. 'MacDougall's Pride' also bears mentioning because it stands apart from the frenetic energy of the rest of the album as a gorgeous, quiet piece performed entirely with aucoustic/traditional instruments.

I'd probably give this album Five Stars if not for the 'What An Idiot He Is' track. While not a bad song, it is somewhat dull and sticks out like a thumb struck repeatedly with a hammer among the rest of the tunes.

I'm also a bit baffled by the 'easter egg' at the end of Track 12. I simply don't get the point. The first part is a rather neat little excursion into 'techno-fiddle' country, with a length indicated on the insert, but its then followed by a minute of total silence before a 'bonus track' titled 'Kill Your Foe' starts. I've found other instances of this approach to be just as lame and annoying. I don't mind unlisted tracks, I just don't understand why some producers choose to make it impossible to easily scan to them. (I can't really fault the music though... it's a nice piece. I just don't like the approach taken in presenting it on the CD.)