Burn the Maps

If there ever was a true "break up" album, I'd have to say that The Frames' Burn the Maps is it. These long standing members of the Irish rock scene created a stunningly passionate affair with this '04 release. The songs within are rife with anger and longing, hope and despair. It's a moody album but still manages to welcome the listener into a series of intensely personal failures and regrets.
I imagine that there is some snarky girl out there that decimated the heart of lead singer Glen Hansard and she shows off this album as a sort of trophy..."yup, that song is totally about me." She brags to her equally snarky cohorts while sipping house wine. But I also imagine her boastful little smile disappearing rather quickly when Glen became an Academy Award winner (along with co-star Markéta Irglová) for Best Original Song for the film Once in which he also starred. Check mate snarky bitches.

...enjoy...

Ridiculously awesome BONUS VIDEO!

Madre, Protegenos

I've been inspired to post Madre, Protegenos by the news of the imminent release of a new album...

Ion is Duncan Patterson's (Anathema, Antimatter, etc) solo project and this be his 2006 debut. With the aide of a number of musicians (many of which are particularly fetching ladies from all about the globe) he has created an often pensive and ethereal musical experience. There is a gentleness and organic nature to the album (something often hinted at in his previous works) as well as a definite "world" music vibe. Now relax, I'm not talking Peter Gabriel singing among the tribes people of central Africa (not that there's anything wrong with that), but instead Patterson takes small bits of local flavors and blends them into his music. From Ireland to Spain to the Mediterranean, he has weaved together elements of folk and ambient musics. The result is unique and subtly breathtaking.

Included is a stunning cover of the Irish classic "Goodbye Johnny Dear" which was written by Duncan's great grandfather Johnny Patterson. Johnny was a renowned singer/song writer/performer in Ireland and later America and Australia. He took the oddly unpopular opinion that Catholics and Protestants should live together peacefully in his song "Do Your Best for One Another." At a show on May 31, 1889 a riot erupted during his performance of his ode to peace and he was tragically killed.

Mother, Protect Us

Live at Vicar Street

Holidays make it an easy go at picking which album to post... Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Christy Moore sings with a natural warmth and sincere passion. He has been a national treasure in Ireland for some 40 years and is the living embodiment of Irish folk music. Here on his fourth live album, Live At Vicar Street (2002), he performs mostly covers and a couple originals. Each of the covers he recreates as his own with his distinct voice and perspective. Moore, in good Irish tradition, is able to wander freely among songs of love and lament, political and revolutionary anthems as well as the more upbeat foot stomping and crowd pleasing tunes. Live At Vicar Street is a beautifully organic album, proving that sometimes a few musicians with just their guitars is all that is needed to provide an enlightening and moving experience. Moore's performance is disarmingly soulful and his banter with his audience makes his charm evident throughout. Enjoy.

Erin Go Bragh

All Is Violent, All Is Bright

Irish post rockers God Is An Astronaut created a magnificent opus with 2005's All Is Violent, All Is Bright. The album offers a series of sweeping musical experiences, while never getting lost in their ever present ambiance. It's a definite challenge to create an album, let alone 4 (to date), without vocals and yet still have the result be so overwhelmingly emotional and moving. God Is An Astronaut do such with astonishing consistency. This trio has a solid following Stateside, but really some more people need to get on this boat. This is an album I just cannot seem to get loud enough... I find myself turning up the volume knob with each pass of the stereo. Neighbors be damned.

"All things are true. God's an Astronaut.
Oz is Over the Rainbow,
and Midian is where
the monsters live." ~~~Nightbreed

Loveless

This was an easy pick for today.

Have a
distorted,
electric,
muffled,

droning,
and shoegazing
Valentine's Day

Ride On

Ireland's Cruachan have held the torch for Pagan/Celtic Metal since 1992 and have certainly had their ups and downs as a band. Today's offering, the 2001 single Ride On, is a definite UP. The featured song is a cover of the beloved Christy More/Jimmy McCarthy classic and features guest vocals by a certain gentleman by the name of Shane MacGowan. You may have heard of him. Mr. MacGowan also co-produced the album Folk-Lore, from which this single is derived. Cruachan has always been a band I've wanted to have greater affinity for, they've had a series of label and production problems through the years, but I always feel that sooner or later they will create a monumental Celtic Metal album. Even if my faith is misplaced, they have created something special here.

Erin Go Bragh