Customer Reviews

Trouble in Land

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

 

 

Some CD's require multiple listenings before one appreciates the quality and content of the recording. Not so, with Black 47's "Trouble In The Land." The CD jumps at the listener with a gritty , yet listenable performance which captures the feel of a Black 47 live concert.

The album is perhaps Black 47's most lyrically loaded recording; and this allows the listener to have a full dose of Larry Kirwan's evocative vocalizations, not to mention his writing. The CD also seems to feature more focus upon Freddy Parcell's trombone and Geoffrey Blythe's sax as more than support for the guitar work and vocals. The only missing element comes from a de-emphasizing of Chris Byrne's hip-hop vocal style. If only the guys would have included one or two more cuts....! Buy this album today!

Lead singer and main songwriter Larry Kirwan writes some of the most awkwardly phrased lyrics you will ever hear. His singing is a strange yelp that always sounds a little off-tempo and off-key. The other singer, Chris Byrne, plays ullean pipes and growls out strained, raspy pseudo-rap. The band is a collection of misfits picked up in the streets and bars of New York City. Add it all up... and you have a great band. Black 47 is like no other band I know. Irish influenced rock that rails against oppression, sings about the bleakness of life and love in a way that is not lyrical, but starkly real. Some songs are history lessons, featuring long spoken pieces by guest speakers, and some songs are simply and joyfully ludicrous. Through it all is the Kirwan, holding it all together with his vision and passion. More than anything, Black 47 is a band of moments. Case in point: In the midst of a somewhat pedestrian rocker about Kirwan trying to find a prostitute in Europe to have sex on James Joyce's grave (I kid you not), the band suddenly changes tempo, changes key, and gives 75 seconds of the most uplifting, purely joyful music you will hear this year. A Black 47 album is full of such moments, sewn together with the rough threads of honesty, commitment, and passion.

Black 47 is an interesting band. When they are looking for a good time few bands can match them. "Delirious," "Desperate," "Bodhrans on the Brain," and "I Got Laid on James Joyce's Grave" are all fine examples of the band at its wildest; ska and Celtic rhythms meet in an unholy amalgamation that can't help but get your feet moving as a smile creeps across your face. But the band sets its sights a bit higher than just party music. Racism and American and Irish politics are all topics open for examination as well the deeper emotions that welcome a poet's touch. Occasionally heavy-handed ("Bobby Kennedy being a prime example of going a bit over the top)") but never boring, Black 47 is a band that deserves a wider audience.

If you've been living under a rock for the last 10 years and have missed the critics raving about Black47, this is a good introduction. While not their best work (For that try their live albums On Fire or Live In New York City), it is definately a well done album that is accessible to the mainstream.

And if you _EVER_ get the chance to see them live....do so. They put on a really good show.

the problem here is NOT that "trouble in the land" is a BAD album...i daresay black '47 is not CAPABLE of producing a bad album (despite the fact larry can't sing)...but rather, we all know they CAN do and HAVE done way better. and THAT's their own fault. this should've been black '47's first release. a few kick-(...) tracks like "those saints", "desperate", and my personal favourite, "bodhráns on the brain" would've been more than enough to hook people's attention, while the other, less-memorable selections would've still left them some room for improvement. instead, however, they made the mistake of making a name for themselves with "fire of freedom", a bloody masterpiece with not one bad song on it that nothing (well, nothing but a live performance) could even come close to bettering.
the trick to appreciating "trouble in the land" would be to try NOT to compare it to the boys' previous work. give it a chance and you'll realise not only is it NOT "fire of freedom", it's also pretty different from anything they've done before. and different isn't always a bad thing. and even still...those of you who can't be without your funky ceili WILL (try though you might to resist) become addicted to "bodhráns".
don't overlook this one just cos it isn't the boys' best. it's still very much worth the money.

Black '47 has put out a few albums since "Fire of Freedom" and tweaked their sound, but none have ever topped their first, or even come close. "Fire of Freedom" is as close as Black '47 got to a masterpiece. This album has a few fun tracks (most notably "Those Saints"), but otherwise they're mostly blah. Black '47 is a great live band, though, so if you already have "Fire of Freedom," get their live album before you get this or any other Black '47 album.

One reason I fell in love with Black47 a long time ago was the drive and emotion that was behind there music. Ive always liked the funky style songs, but the emotional based tear jerkers were the ones that always caught my attention most. This release is more ska, reggae then anything else. Im glad Larry, put out a solo album, those are the songs I yearn for from Black 47.

Anyone looking for the usual catchy and/or reflective melodies from Black 47 won't find many of them on this album. "Delirious" and "Bobby Kennedy" (tracks 3 and 4) are laughably awful, although the songwriting quality does pick up after these two tracks...especially in the lyrics department. "Those Saints" (2) and "Bodhrans On The Brain" (6) are easily the most fun, but they don't really stand out like past hits such as "Green Suede Shoes" and "Funky Ceili".

The back cover of the album case gives a short description of the band's style, presumably because this is their first release on the Shanachie label. It's clearly targeted at those who have never heard the band, and reads as follows:

"A streetwise mix of rock, reggae, ska and Irish music paired with evocative lyrics steeped in history, politics, and tales of the immigrant experience."

A note to those who have never heard the band: pick up the "Green Suede Shoes" album instead. You'll get much more out of that release.