Tain [Import]

Horslips | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Edsel Records UK
• ASIN: B00004SW6G
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #612,133 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Setanta

2. Maeve's Court

3. Charolias

4. The March

5. You Can't Fool The Beast

6. Dearg Doom

7. Ferdia's Song

8. Gae Bolga

9. Cu Chulainn's Lament

10. Faster Than The Hound

11. The Silver Spear

12. More Than You Can Chew

13. The Morrigan's Dream

14. Time To Kill!

Editorial Reviews

UK reissue of the 1973 sophomore album from Ireland's mostacclaimed folk-rock and progressive band. Remastered fromthe original tapes with packaging & annotation by the group themselves. Includes the original studio version of live favorite 'Dearg Doom'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Fun Than a Reeling Barrel of Jigs, June 16, 2000

By 

Kirk P O'Brien (Richmond, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tain (Audio CD)

Horslips worked in the prog rock era, when a sense of humour seemed to be contrary to the "serious" aspirations of rock stars, and everything was long winded, moody, and deeply rent with serious, earth-shattering meaning. In other words, a time when things were kind of dull. Dreadfully dull, actually. The fact that this album-- their second-- was a concept album could tell you that Horslips was part of this era. Like many such albums, it has a highfalutin' central theme-- the adventures of the legendary Irish hero CuChulainn-- and also like many such albums, the lyrics are rather humourless in detailing CuChulian's many adventures. But unlike many of their "progressive" brethern, this band had a sense of fun that could not be denied. It would leak through in the art for their album covers,which were often littered with small jokes. More importantly, it came through in their music, an astonishing blend of traditional Irish tunes and rock and roll that never slowed down to take a breath. The centerpiece of this album, the amazing "Dearg Doom," ably demonstrates this point. Built around a traditional tune called O'Neill's Cavalry and powered by drummer Eamon Carr's simple, precise drumming (no flashy prog-rock parradiddles for this capable musician) the song is a thundering jig that simply refuses to slow down. The band has the good sense to keep individual songs short-- a rarity in those times of four album side long "opuses"-- and the breaks are more often than not incredible multi-instrument takes on traditional jigs, reels, and airs. This isn't their best album-- that would be Dancehall Sweethearts, where the humour trickled over to the lyrics-- but it is a very good one. Horslips may have worked in the progressive rock era, but like all good bands, they only worked in their era-- they weren't quite part of it. Even today, the humour and joy of their music set them apart.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've Got To Think Of A Catchy Title To Grab Attention, July 5, 2004

By 

Oymaprat (Nowhere In Particular) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tain (Audio CD)

I'll keep it short. The horslips made a beautiful fusion of Irish Folk and Rock on their albums and this is perhaps the best example. This is a truly wonderful album depicting the Irish Myth of the Tain (short title) and does a great job. It's rawness really brings across the images of bloody battles etc. If you are looking to buy other horslips albums you are best off buying the middle ones (Tain, Book of Invasions, Dancehall Sweethearts etc and working your way out. Their first album being very Irish, their latter ones being Pop Rocky with an Irish twist.
So to sum up, for a first Horslips buy get this and see what you think. Give it several listens and see if it grows on you. If you already have another horslips album and like it you are almost certain to enjoy this as it is the perfect blend of both Irsh Folk and Rock.
I hope I have been of service...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensational, one of my all time favorites, September 25, 2001

By 

"hatfieldnorth" (Hawthorn Woods, il United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tain (Audio CD)

Half this album is great Irish folk jams and jigs with a bit a prog rock sense and half is great prog rock songs with great guitar, flute playing, etc..these guys dont appear to appeal to many prog rock fans in general but id recommend it to all of them, especaally anyone who likes jethro tull at all..this is one of my all time favorite albums, its both complex and fun, the songwriting is great and so is the band in general.