"All the Old Blind Dogs' albums are worth listening to--and having for your own. Not one has failed me yet. They have just the right combination of tradition and innovation, otherworldliness and jauntiness... I could go on, but if you know them you'll know what I mean. Sadly the lead vocalist Ian will be retiring soon, but we hope for a new voice just as engaging. I don't get too excited about bands, but this one I heartily reccomend."
This is the CD that got me interested in Celtic music
L. Kuck | 11/26/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this CD years ago at the suggestion of a friend who knows Celtic music, and it remains my favorite. The more I listen to it, the more I love every tune. The songs, sung by Ian Benzie, caught my attention first, but I soon became just as captivated by the other tunes. I can't recommend this CD highly enough."
We wore out the CD!
L. Kuck | 10/01/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Seriously. They say that CDs are supposed to be indestructable (under normal conditions, of course) but we really did wear this one out, we listened to it so much. There is simply no better band at combining the traditional with the modern and giving everything they do a punch. Buy it and you won't regret it... until you wear it out and have to buy another one!"
Not blind, not dogs and not old but good music nevertheless!
L. Kuck | 07/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I first discovered Scotland's "Old Blind Dogs" I thought of images of dogs trying to jump through hoops for their trainer and missing, or making it only half through the hoop of fire and just laying their smoldering with a man's best friend type of smile. Well, the secret is out. They are not blind, they are not dogs and..... I believe the lead singer is about my age, so I don't think of him as old. For decades, they have had a unique sound of lead singing with a heavy Scottish accent and wild percussion, including djembe and conga drums. Ian Benzy has been the lead vocal through that period of time, with Dave Cattanach simply listed as percussion ( they must we weary listing all of the exotic instruments than having to spell them correctly). They start with a strong synchopated rhythm in track one "Kilbogie." I usually play along and lose sense of time and tracks until track 8. That is why I am giving this CD 5 stars. MacPherson's Rant is a poignant little dittie sung in the first person of someone about to be hung by the British. My background is Irish, and this usually gets me to standing and ranting along. Excellent Cittern and Low "D" Whistle are contributed by Buzzyby McMillan. Jonny Hardie looks too young for a veteran group but contributes absolutely excellent fiddle. I do have to mention missing the piper. The dogs are easy to lose track of for Irish and Irish American Celtic Music basketcases like myself. They are well worth the investment to put a few of their CD's in a Celtic collection. My only complaint is that the lyrics didn't come with the CD. "A Beggin'I Wool Go" was, my introduction to English sung in a Scottishy way. The usual question was "Whut is greazy braed laddie? My friends and I loved to sing along to this song accompanied by good Scottish Whiskey. Toward the end of the evening I will have to admit to humming through parts of songs. Then we would get teary eyed listening to their voices only harmony in "Tatties are in 'Oven." We thought this was a religious song about something being in heaven, and we cried into our whisky. Then a Scottish friend enlightened us as to why he was laughing so hard. Tatties are a pastry and they were refering to the oven. The harmony is still there and each CD has at least one voices only track. My hope is the dogs stay together and keep making these fine Celtic Music CDs."
An outstanding Celtic folk album
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 08/27/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Innovative, yet solid, modern Scottish trad that branches out into several directions and musical modes. The band's a bit showy, actually, if truth be told, wearing their virtuousity on their sleeve, while flitting gleefully about through a variety of styles. Fortunately, they're also really, really good, and capable of playing soulfully as well as energetically. Lead singer Ian F. Benzie has a bit of a Nic Jones about him (which is a very high compliment in my book), and fiddler Jonny Hardy adds a mournful, magic touch to several tunes. This is particularly rich and rewarding album, well worth checking out!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1