Casualties of Retail by Enter the Haggis
Written: Feb 04 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Traditional yet modern Celtic music.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: Casualties of Retail is a phenomenal record by a band destined for great things!
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| Bounty628's Full Review: Casualties of Retail - Enter the Haggis Movies |
If you know anything about the makeup of haggis, you might know enough that it is probably nothing that you would rush out and consume large quantities of it. In an effort to save the stomach of my readers, rather than describe the contents of haggis, I have decided to describe a much more palatable entity.
Although this band takes its name from a traditional Scottish meal, I can ensure you that the music of Enter the Haggis is much more appealing than the meal from which they take their name. Based out of Toronto, Canada, Enter the Haggis has produced a great CD entitled Casualties of Retail , which draws heavily on a Celtic influenced background.
The members of Enter the Haggis are all quite musically inclined and each member performs multiple instruments on different tracks of the album. The band members include Brian Buchanan (vocals, fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin), Craig Downie (highland and Degar bagpipes, vocals, tin whistle, jaw harp, harmonica), Mark Abraham (electric bass, vocals), James Campbell (drums, percussion, vocals), and Trevor Lewington (vocals, guitar, banjo).
Casualties of Retail was produced by Joao Carvalho and was put out by Fireband Entertainment.
When one thinks of traditional Celtic music, the idea of sitting around a pub watching some young colleens dance to the tunes immediately comes to mind. Perhaps you picture a pint of Guinness or Murphy's in your hand and your own foot tapping to the beats being played. If this it is solid Celtic music that you are looking for, you need not look any further than Casualties of Retail for a very well done Celtic album with a very modern appeal.
Don’t be fooled into believing that this album is solely going to rely on a modern Celtic sound, rather, the album draws on a variety of other musical genres. An infusion of non-traditional Celtic sounds make some of the tracks on the album a bit awkward in terms of tradition, yet amazingly impressive in terms of quality.
The lyrics within this album carry your traditional Celtic appeal: songs about love, war, and Whisky.
The album starts out perfectly with a strong musical track, Music Box . This track ideally characterizes what is next to come within the album. Impressive fiddle work is quickly met with the blazing of the bagpipe and then comes the deep percussive beats of the drum. The album musically is constructed together in a fashion that serves as a great introduction to the entire album in allowing the listener to gather a feel for him or herself as to what the album and sound of Enter the Haggis entails.
Another Round is a strange, yet nicely done, song that mixes the Celtic sound with almost something of a Southern feel to it. We’ll call it Irish Whisky meets Jack Daniels, ah the imagery. This is the first taste of the lyrics and vocal power of the band and the track surely will not disappoint.
Moved through the fair is a very traditional sounding song with somewhat of a love song feel to it. "Last night I did dream that my love she came in and so quietly she came that her feet made no din and she laid her hands on me and this she did say, oh it will not be long love till out wedding day."
The album mixed in terms of songs with vocal accompaniment matched with other tracks that focus solely on the Celtic instrumental sounds. One of the highlights of many Celtic songs is the fact that the music is so powerful that instrumental songs can often tell as much of a story as songs with vocal accompaniment might. Enter the Haggis's music fits a very similar mold. With instrumental tracks such as Congress , Martha Stuart , and Life for love mixed in between tracks with vocals, Enter the Haggis solidifies themselves as a quality Celtic band not only writing fitting and well thought out lyrics, but also producing music that is worthy of much praise.
Track listing:
1. Musicbox
2. Another round
3. Gasoline
4. Twirling towards freedom
5. Congress
6. Haven
7. Minstrel boy
8. Martha Stuart
9. Moved through the fair
10. Life for love
11. To the quick
12. Down with the ship
Enter the Haggis is a band that, although I have yet to see at a live venue, I can guarantee must put on a great show. If this album is any indication of a live performance, one can expect high-energy music matched with impressive lyrics and vocals. Casualties of Retail is a very impressive album for this band now located in Toronto, Canada and the sounds of Enter the Haggis are some that should be entering your CD players very soon.
For more information about Enter the Haggis, check out their website at www.enterthehaggis.com.
Recommended:
Yes
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