Search - Old Blind Dogs :: The Gab O Mey

No frills, just good sound

Jerome Clark | Canby, Minnesota | 04/25/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Old Blind Dogs are among the most consistently satisfying of the current-generation Anglo-Celtic bands. The Gab o Mey is one more solid effort in the Dogs's already impressive catalogue. What makes the band especially appealing is its determination to eschew the pop gloss that has rendered other, once-interesting bands -- Solas, for one egregious example -- slick and soulless. Besides a pleasingly innovative use of rhythms, their principal bow to modern sound is in the inclusion of drums, which work well for the most part. The percussion is annoyingly intrusive only in the final cut, the venerable sailors' hymn "Rolling Home," which suffers as well from an unnecessary, and inferior, rewrite. It was simply a dumb idea to transform the song into a pirate ballad. "Monymusk Lads" and "Bogie's Bonny Belle" are staples of the British folk revival, but they're great songs, and the Dogs do them justice. They also deserve credit for reviving Brian McNeill's engaging "Lads o' the Fair," from an early Battlefield Band album. Dog veteran Jim Malcolm's "The Wisest Fool" is another fine example of a modern song written to sound traditional."

Electric Consistency

Debra Montague | Wheaton, IL United States | 05/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rock groups should take a lesson from Old Blind Dogs. A change in percussionist from "Fit?" has not changed the sound of the group. The addition of Fraiser merely adds to the depth this group shows. "Monymusk Lads", "Wisest Fool", "Bonnie Bell" are what we have come to expect from the group. The instrumentals are infused not only with Scotland, you can almost feel the North Sea in your face, but also with the personality of each performer. If you own any of their other CDs, you NEED this one. I guarantee, after one listening, you'll be singing along with "Wisest Fool"."

Expanding their musical horizons

Luke D. Powers | Seaford, NY United States | 04/08/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was afraid that the Old Blind Dogs would begin to falter after putting out two superb albums in "The World's Room" and "Fit" (I do not own their earlier material). This album shows that they are still in their musical prime.



They blend tunes and songs with ease. Jim Malcolm's warm and expressive voice works as beautifully on mournful ballads such as "Bogie's Bonny Belle" as it does on more spirited numbers like "Moneymusk Lads" and "The Lads o' the Fair," the latter written by Brian McNeill and featuring gorgeous harmonies.



Rory Campbell showcases his usual impressive piping. The highlight of the album is "The Breton and Galician Set," which shows Campbell growing as a piper by taking on the Galician gaita. The set also features beautiful interplay between Campbell's low whistle and Jonny Hardie's fiddle. The settings of the bass, guitar, and percussion (by newcomer Fraser Stone) all add perfectly to a stunningly beautiful and addictive set.



Perhaps the one weak point of the album is Malcom's original song, "The Wisest Fool," with a rather bland, contemporary-sounding melody. But other than that, this is essential listening."