Villians? [Import]

Saw Doctors | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Shamtown
• ASIN: B00005NZIK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,705 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Villains? Hardly. Cordial County Galway blokes the Saw Doctors remain cheery heroes at home in the Emerald Isle, where 1990's slice of punked-up Lonnie Donegan-esque skiffle "I Useta Love Her" still stands as the biggest selling Irish single of all time. Thus far, The Saw Doctors' albums have offered plenty in the way of sprightly folk-fused bonhomie, self-deprecating daftness and laments for old girlfriends and the green fields of home. And Villains? is another peppy taste of the same old medicine. Well, with a few surprises. Ska-flavoured novelty number "Chips" updates the "Tennessee Waltz" luckless-in-love theme for the post-pub takeaway generation whilst the happy-go-lucky "Always Gives Me More" is effectively that old school-disco nuisance "Best Years of Our Lives" by Modern Romance emblazoned with township brass and Bhundu Boys jit guitar. And try "DNA" to hear what the Undertones would have sounded like had they survived beyond their teenage troubles. Best of all, the foot-stomping "This Is Me" proffers a chorus of immensely unarguable logic--"This is me being me, it's just the way I am". Well, Villains? is the Saw Doctors being the Saw Doctors; it's just the way they are. And would we want it any other way? --Kevin Maidment

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Edgy and just a little dark, January 14, 2002

By 

[e-mail] (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Villians? (Audio CD)

I've come to understand that you can not judge a new Saw Doctors album on the 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd listen. You need to allow some time for all the different styles and sounds to become familiar and release their charms. "Villains?" is no exception. The title track, which opens the album, at first listen is a strange, discordant dirge with voicebox vocals and a slurred, overpowering bass line. What's this? Where are the happy, joyful Saw Doctors? This is followed by the bouncy "This Is Me", the tender "Still Afraid of the Dark", the loping "Happy Days", the powerful "Bounds to the Peace"... I think you get the idea. "Villains?" doesn't let you settle into a comfort zone, as a listener. It's edgy and just a little dark. This is a new side to the Saw Doctors and, while it takes a little getting used to, in the end it is well worth the effort.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hit or Miss, January 4, 2002

By 

"bhayes9074" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Villians? (Audio CD)

As a bigtime doctors' fan I circled the calendar for the day this CD was released as an import. I like the album....I don't love it. Some songs they have been playing live for a while just don't measure up as a studio version...such as "always gives me more" and "DNA"...as well as "Villians" although that holds up a little better...it's only because they're stage shows are so good that these songs lose their luster...."this is me", "bound to the peace", "darkwind" are the classic Davy vocals that seperate this band from any other....and suprisingly "Happy Days" is my absolute favorite track on the album...Mr. Doherty has been getting more PT as time goes by and this track proves it is well worth it..."still afraid of the dark", "I know I got your love" and "still the only one" all ballads are listenable as all saw doctors tunes are...but I would venture to say they could possibly be the 3 worst songs they have put on a CD...they just don't seem to go anywhere...If this album came from any other band...it would be unbelievable..but coming from my favorite band...i'm happy but not psyched...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Villians is one of their best!, December 27, 2001

By 

Joe Morrison (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Villians? (Audio CD)

For anyone who thought "Same Old Town" was a brilliant CD, the Saw Doctors' Villians? certainly gives it a run for its money. The CD has a unity that many of their Cds are lacking and, better yet, there are no throw away songs here. From the surprisingly dark sounding "Villians" to the lively "This is Me," "Bound for the Peace," Happy Days," and "She Always Gives Me More" the band's execution of this material is flawless. As great a live band as they are, this CD captures their spirit and energy well. It was a long time in the making, and on the brief side (39 minutes), but every song is a gem. Well worth the wait.