Customer Reviews

evoLver

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

 

 

Barking Monkey has a wonderfully unique approach to Celtic music. While it is certainly born of Celtic roots, it has an aggressive rock edge to it that gives it a delightful overall quality. Each member seems to have a different background, which when combined together, has a result much like a fine blended whiskey. Excellence.

I highly recommend this album.

This album is simply a disgrace to the songs that are included on this release. The song selection is great and I bought it on that fact alone. Any album with a new version of Tam Lin or The Bonny Black Hare should be good right? Wrong! This band needs to learn how to record an album--it sounds as if it was recorded in a basement with outdated equipment. The musicians themselves need much work before they should be releasing any more material. They need a new drummer and someone who can at least hold a tune--some of the worst singing I've heard. Simply put--this band does not know the material well enough to handle songs of this importance. They need to go back and listen to some of the classic folk-rock albums like Fairport Convention's "Lieg and Lief" or Steeleye Span's "Below the Salt." Or better yet, they need to listen to current Celtic rockers that get it right like Ashley MacIssac, MacKeel, or Wolfstone. What a shame that an album like this even is available.

Update 2/18/03:
I realized, after reading some of my reviews, that I was pretty harsh regarding this album, so recently I decided to go back and have another listen. Guess what? This is still such a BAD record. I actually found myself getting angry at the level of shear awfulness. Absolutely dreadful!