Customer Reviews

Home Ground - Live From Scotland

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

 

 

This is the first offering from the Battlefield Band that I heard, and I was hooked instantly. Being a Scot I may be a wee bit biased here, but I challenge anyone to go out and buy this disc and not like it... providing you are a fan of folk muisc that is!

Dougie Pincock's bagpipe playing is a revelation. He really offers a new dimension of sound for this fabulous instrument.

I feel this album suffers from two things: too much '80s digitalization and too much American pop.

(1) Alan Reid is a great musician, but he went overboard with his keyboard work on this one. Almost every track has a prominent keyboard piece, even the bagpipe 'solos'. I like Alan a lot but there are times I wish he would've kept quiet. The modern B.B. plays excellent music -- the traditional instruments (bagpipes, whistles, fiddle, guitar, etc.) are at the forefront and the keyboard plays mostly in the background. And when Alan does play it's more of a traditional piano sound. But on the "Home Ground" album it's digital which just doesn't sound right to me. On a couple tracks there are also drums employed, which is disjointed, albeit not as badly as the keyboard.

If I wanted a modern/traditional music mix I'd listen to someone else... but I expect the B.B. to play traditionally arranged songs. Thus, when I bought this album I was somewhat disappointed.

(2) Apparently Scots like American music more than I was aware. Really only two tracks (9 & 12) feature American songs, but that's more than enough for me. I actually like B.B.'s version of "Bad Moon Rising"; it's amusing. But others, like "Lets Twist Again" don't translate well I guess.

Altogether, they tried to make this album too modern. They might be able to accomplish this successfully if they chose a better set of songs. I gather this was a persistent problem with their albums from the '80s (reference a review of "Anthem for the Common Man") so, therefore, I think I'll avoid their other mid-80s work.

Not to be a total douser, I grant that tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, and 10 do present some nice work.

This disc is alright; just good enough to purchase. But not one I listen to often.

A friend of mine lent me his copy of Home Ground during a painting class, and I've been hooked ever since! Battlefield Band has not only a great sound (as heard best on The Rovin' Dies Hard, My Bonnie Yew Tree, The Dear Green Place, and of course, After Hours) but also a great sense of humor (Bad Moon Rising, Band of 1000 Chances). These guys are great! Anyone who likes any guitar based music will like this, and the bagpipes are a plus!

If you enjoy Celtic music and wouldn't mind a mix of instrumentals, covers, classics, ballads, originals, and the rockingest bagpipe numbers I have ever heard, then get this CD **immediately**. I cannot stop listening, and I am buying copies for everybody. The integration of the bagpipe with other instruments in this small but incredible band is like nothing I have heard anywhere else.

I've long been familiar with the Battlefield Band, but had only a few of their pieces. This is an excellent collection.

Don't get this CD if you don't love bagpipes -- I do, and I did! Heard about them on "Thistle and Shamrock" on NPR -- great Scottish band. Very traditional As I said, if you love the pipes...