Customer Reviews

World's Room

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard The Battle of Waterloo on NPR's Thistle and Shamrock show and had to pull my car over, I was so taken by OBD's sound and soul. Extremely Scottish, without being overly folksy, this CD blends traditional Scottish musical forms with some very innovative rhythms and vocal treatments. Jim Malcom's voice is hauntingly beautiful and suited perfectly to the music--and vice versa. You do NOT have to be into Scottish Folk music to love this CD. It is completely modern yet evokes the past almost romantically. Lose your stereotypes of kilted Scottish soldiers playing "Scotland the Brave" on 40 bagpipes...and enjoy.

Old Blinds Dogs is definately the heir apparent to such long established Scots neo-folk groups as The Tannies, Capercallie and Silly Wizard.

As a long time lover of folk from the British Isles, I am always on the lookout for groups with right combination of new sound and old rhythm, and OBD hits the mark on every track of "The World's Room".

While I cut my "folkie" teeth on the Steeleye Span version of "Edward" - I think I will soon come to enjoy the OBD version much, much more. As to "The Mill O'Tifty" - I can't listen to it in the car - it's hard to drive with the tears streaming. This is one of the most tragic songs I've ever heard.

Don't pass this one by - no serious lover of Scots folk should be without this CD in the collection.

Lita

A friend had an extra ticket for a live performance of Old Blind Dogs in the small upstate, NY village of Oxford. Scottish folk music sounded interesting so i went along. I was instantly blown away by this band. I could have listened to them all night. I purchased this cd at the show and haven't taken it out of my cd player since. My favorate cut on the cd is "Mill O' Tifty" which tells the true sad story of a young lady, Bonnie Annie who falls in love with a common man. A trumpeter by the name of Andrew Lammie. Scorned and shamed by her family for lowering herself to court such a man. She is disowned by her mother and father, scorned by her sister, and killed by her brother. Her headstone still stands to this day, dated in the 1600's. This cd is full of moving, and joyfull songs. A wise investment for anyone who enjoys quality folk music.

I bought this CD after seeing them in concert. Rory Campbell is not on tour with them; Finlay MacDonald is filling in. They were phenomenal live. They are funny, especially Buzzby, and relaxed until they start to play, at which point they lock together in earnest.

I subsequently bought the earlier CD _Legacy_ and believe that the new line up easily carries on the quality of the earlier releases. Jim Malcolm's voice is eerily similar to Benzie's, but warmer and richer. Stand-out songs are "Forfar Sodger", which has a happy unending, and "Mill O'Tifty", which doesn't. Stand-out tune: "Soup of the Day" is simply a revelation.

The percussionist, although hailing from the Shetland Islands, seems to have listened to a lot of African and Middle Eastern music. His backbeat gives this Celtic music an international flavor that somehow modernizes it without sacrificing any of the traditional sound. It means that these guys can get sort of jazzy or even psychedelic, the latter tendency is particularly pronounced in concert. See them. Buy their albums.

It's not often that I rate an album so glowingly, but OBD's The World's Room is most deserving of such praise. This is a well produced and exceptionally played disc that'll have you returning to it time and time again. It's a bold, impassioned work, stretching the boundaries of celtic music while all the while keeping a firm grasp on tradition. I was especially impressed with the lead singing of Jim Malcolm (check out The Battle of Waterloo and Mill O'Tifty). As for tunes, OBD's is in very fine form. Pipes, fiddles, and whistles come together in breathtaking form, and the listener can't help but "crank it up." By all means, don't miss The World's Room.

I can't enthuse enough over this CD! I originally found out about Old Blind Dogs while touring in Edinburgh Castle. OBD was playing over the sound system and I asked the clerk about them. He was very enthusiastic, and I ended up buying the CD, and ever since, I've been buying all the OBD CD's. With good reason. This band is phenomenally talented and Rory Campbell is almost supernatural on the pipes. All their CD's are good, and worth the price, but this is far and away the best one. I know the lineup of the band recently changed, and it's good to see they are growing, as opposed to just changing for change sake. I can't recommend this heartily enough. It's what the Scottish people listen to.

Having just returned from Ireland, this Celtic/Scottish recently reconstituted band's music is being played all over Dublin. And for good reason. The album is worth it -- especially Roslin Castle and Edward cuts. Settle in and enjoy.

Old Blind Dogs is one of my favorite bands. Their take on traditional Scottish music is brilliant, and Jim Malcolm's voice is liquid gold.

We saw/heard this group (Old Blind Dogs) at the Lowell (Mass) Folk Festival some years ago. We remembered that they were great and full of energy. We especially liked "Edward." This album has great cuts - almost every one of them. Ever buy an album with a cut you loved only to find that the others were just filler? Not so with this album. You'll love it.

There is no denying the talent and skill of the Old Blind Dogs. One need only listen to tracks like To The Beggin' I Will Go, Mill O'Tifty and The Ritual. However, they have yet to make THE Old Blind Dogs Album.

This group is awesome live. They have energy, intelligence and wit that are rarely matched. The World's Room serves as a very good introduction to the band's mellow side.

There is not a weak song on the disc. There are flashes of brilliance (the tracks I mentioned above, The Battle of Waterloo, Roslin Castle). I just feel it should all come together more.

I have yet to find an album by the Old Blind Dogs that allows me to demonstrate fully to others why I love their music. My copy of The World's Room was given to me for Christmas by my brother so it holds a special place in my heart. Fit? is another excellent album that showcases the rowdier side of the Old Blind Dogs.

This listener is still waiting for the true greatness of the Old Blind Dogs to shine through on a recording. Until then, I recommend The World's Room and Fit?. They are not perfect Old Blind Dogs recordings, but they are miles ahead of anything you're liable to hear on commercial radio.