Ricky Warwick, Belfast Confetti

Ricky Warwick, Belfast Confetti (Dr2-2009)

Here you have the Almighty singer/songwriter moving away from his old rock n roll past and into a classic Celtic/folk style of music. Ok the tunes are still here and it isn't all tin whistles and hand clapping. It does still pull a punch with the classic feel of rock. Rickey's voice sounds amazing on this album as if we have missed something all this time. 

He was asked by a friend when in New York to write a song about Belfast. The title song is a great single and if I had my way would be a huge hit. Not just that but the whole album has classic song after classic covering all feelings that you can in one album. Northern Ireland has its troubles and that has been used to write the album, Ricky says when I saw him live that while in New York he was drinking with a Belfast friend that pointed out that they couldn't stand in the same pub in Belfast and have a pint together. 

The album kicks of with a nice punchy fun track in "Can't Wait For Tomorrow" an acoustic night hit that can be played in any pub and have the punters sing along. The title track really is a local boy paying respect to his home town.

As the albums goes into track three you really get that hair standing on the neck feeling, this is a classic. "Throwin' Dirt" really is just a stunning track, simply written on the acoustic and few melodies to help fill the track but amazing lyrics. I even sit and play this on my guitar (badly).

Ricky's voice helps drive "Thousands are Leaving" a track that could be used in so many news reports forever. It is passionate and makes you think, the sign of a good song. "Hank's Blues" pulls it all back and rock n rolls out with that fantastic mix of folk and rock music. It really works so well on this track I start reaching for the washboard. Failing that hand claps require no skill.

One of my favorite tracks in "Punchin' Thunder" a song Ricky explains is about a mate who he went to gigs with at the Barras (Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow) and he would say "we will be punching thunder the night big man" meaning punching the air as the music is playing. A nice simple acoustic guitar riff starts the track and into a nice sing along melodic tune that thankfully Ricky has not needed to add in any extra harmonies. "Angel of Guile" gets the heart strings and brain functioning as does the ears. Again he sounds amazing as his voice makes the ground rumble when I have the amp pushing this on a Friday night in. Great tune that again just hits so many buttons, the album flows so well that you are three quarters in and EVERY track stands out as a classic. 

Some nice finger style picking in "Born Fightin'" helps bring the album to an end with "Can't Hurt a Fool" encompassing that great folk/celtic style so well. "If You're Gonna Bleed (Wear Black)" feels more of a country track (and I fucking love country) his voice again sounds so well in this style and the track clocks in near seven minutes and does not let you wander at all. Great ending to an album that I feel Sony and Phillips should use as evidence as to why the repeat button was put onto the first CD players. 

I mean in, this album is amazing. All eleven tracks are utter stunner's, not a bad riff, drum hit or lyric in sight. An album written with no eye on the charts it easily hits my chart. One of my albums of the year in 2009 and I have talked to fans of the Almighty who have never heard it. Each time I nearly have to get them in a headlock till they promise to buy it.  

I see why some people may well be put off as the Almighty was not a band they like or bother with but this is different, I have so far got this album as a present for a 67 year old and a 10 year old and both love it to bits. Timeless and a classic and sadly missed by so many, but not now eh? 

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Easily available online via these retailers.  

Classic Album Review Cryptopsy, Whisper Supremacy

Cryptopsy, Whisper Supremacy (Century Media-1998)

I was watching a tv show here in the UK called Room 101. The show is like a panel show where three guests choose things they want to put into Room 101 a fictional place where once it is in it never comes out.
One of the shows guests Sara Cox (A UK pop radio station presenter) choose to put in death metal as she simply can't get it. Now as far as I was concerned till this album I never got it. Or at least wanted to really get it but this one is the one that got me into that whole style of music in a big way. Saying that I would never have vanished it like shy may have tried to do simply due to not understanding it.

So if you fancy giving this a go this is a great place to start. This album was under a sub genre called technical death metal one I really still don't think exists even now as it is unfair to call any music technical but it is a way of helping to describe the music as well as the change in direction.

This music really was invented much like metal music in Birmingham, UK. If you have never been I can tell you the music fits so well. The city was a big part of the industrial revolution and many think it may never have happened on such a large scale if it was not for the size of the output in Birmingham. So this music really does accompany the cities historical past well.

A wall of noise is an easy description but track one "Emaciate" feels like that a barrage of drums and guitars greet you a few seconds in. But it does all fall down to a sort of technical conclusion and starts off in a direction I would describe as not wanting to stay static. Unlike many other bands of this style I can see how you can move to it as it is non stop energy. Bit like hardcore made fast and with added volume.

Many people hear a band like Slipknot and seem to wrongly at times call it death metal but if you hear that and then give this a listen it is a whole planet of difference. Most death metal bands have no gimmicks at all. Not that dressing up is a bad thing they just do not need it. The music is all it is about and one of the few styles of music the fans really do only care about what the next albums drum sound is like.

Talking of drums it again was a shock to hear such good playing, well recorded too. The music was as clear as a bell and each and every drum fill makes the room shake. It is that fast I really do not know how someone can play like that live, but I have seen them and yest it is like that. "Cold Hate, Warm Blood" was a popular song in the few pubs I visited that played this music. I think some of the reason I like this album so much is that the vocals really are not always there and the bad can be heard. The vocals on this track show that with a very quick verse and what sounds like a chorus only once.

All the music here is very deceiving as it does sound so easy and for many not hard to play at all. But listen closely the band is really working so hard. In between all the noise there are little passages of music not so much of a tune but like those zig zags you get outside schools. Such jagged and fearsome looking you would never ever park there.

Clocking in at 30 minutes it is that length it can be heard in total and for me enjoyed easily and it never feels to last too long. The sort of album to listen to when pissed off and I really do mean it when I say it helps. Many other bands at the time seemed to be obsessed with gore and gruesome covers on the album. Nothing wrong with that but when the music is crap I always stayed away. Till this album really blew the doors open.

Thankfully the style was not placed into room 101 and was saved by the presenter who thinks the fans deserve respect for what they support so passionately. In a time where music to many is nothing but background noise that can be streamed for free and never discussed. Try ignore this and try playing it in work the next time. See the reactions from people?! that is what music can do. Hey if you still don't get it you get my respect as you gave it a go. But one day when you miss the train and its an hour till the next one and it makes you very late. That anger does not need to be bottled up... and you can play this twice ha ha.

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Album review Street Dogs, Fading American Dream

Street Dogs, Fading American Dream (Brass Tacks Records-2006)

The Dropkick Murphys released a cracking debut in Do or Die. Lead singer  Mike McColgan left as he wanted to undertake a career elsewhere. He may have not understood the impact that first album had as the band went on to become one of the best American punk bands in a long time. Even the second album was fantastic helping to launch the band into a world audience.

A few years later Mike McColgan decided he wanted back in music and again a punk band was his goal. With many fans of the Dropkick Murphy knowing of him there was an reason for making album so this one is album number three. And what an album.

There is no messing about here you know what you are getting. Not much unlike the Dropkicks the music is fast and intense punk rock. Take out the obvious Irish influences and add in more loud guitars it was all done at 100mph. Jut the way I like it!

Songs have some really strange inspirations like "Fatty" about a fat kid being bullied. But the lyrics make you think. "Do you remember back in high school, that kid we all picked on, know one backed him, ever liked him, he takes carries that with him today". The song goes on to show the strength of that kid and not giving up. A song that could be used for so many other things.

The recording quality is very professional, and it should be. The whole band sounds great here and above all sound punk. Mike McColgan has to be one of the best vocalists ever in punk music. As I say the first Dropkick Murphys album is still a real important album, his voice helped to make that so.

"There Is Power in a Union" Is another highlight a Billy Bragg cover and for me way better than his version. The power and intensity in this could bring down companies alone. I had my own troubles with my work over the years and I fought them the whole way even to the point of seeing a lawyer just to know where I stand. This song is why I done it , Again Mike singing "let's Fight" is the difference from Bragg and him. Listen to this on the walk to work to pick up a redundancy letter and I will dare you not to fight back.

Some songs have even crossed that line of comedy while still being serious. "Tobe's Got a Drinking Problem" is about a band member who has that little bit more than he should. The song is delivered in a comedy way as I think he has managed to control his drinking. "I swear on almighty God that I am never drinking again" is a key lyric.

There are many Irish influences on here but a little less than the Dropkick Murphy went on to include on later albums. "Shards of Life" shows a full on folk sound with a nice mix of rock music. It is a welcome lighter structure and just as catchy tune with dobro, pump organ and acoustic guitar giving that classic Irish feel.

A fantastic all round punk album that fits so well in 2006 and even now it means just as much. There are some amazing lyrics on this album and that is something that punk music really can miss at times. Politically aligned to one side and for many people they may not like what they have to say. But they have to, the skill here is in the music and how good it is. Many Boston bands have a history of being great fun good time bands and this is right up there. Adults like me will feel the lyrics, the kids will love the music and for us all an album that uses the punk rock name properly. A rare album indeed.

This album is out of print but copies are about check sellers on Amazon

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