CD Details
Synopsis
Amazon.comIn 1990, the Saw Doctors, an obscure band from the rural backwater of County Galway, topped the Irish charts with their second single, "I Useta Lover." It remained in the No. 1 slot for nine weeks and became the biggest selling Irish single ever at that point. They play the sort of roots-rock that has seldom dented the American charts since the E Street Band disbanded, but the Saw Doctors' roots include a large dose of Irish folk music as well as American rockabilly and British pub-rock. By 1997, the group had gone on to release three hit albums and an EP, scoring three Top 30 British hit singles in the process. Even though they toured America three times, the Saw Doctors never had a U.S. release until Sing a Powerful Song was released late in 1997. Culled from their previous Irish releases, this 17-song compilation makes a strong case for the Saw Doctors as one of the world's most appealing roots-rock outfits. The quartet plays with a loose-knit affability that de-emphasizes flashy solos and sonic innovation in favor of joyful gusto. This could easily lapse into bar-band clichés, but the songs written by the band's two singer/guitarists are too good for that. Davy Carton and Leo Moran have a sharp eye for mixed emotions and lyric detail, which they marry to bouncy melodies. They lionize Ireland's "N17" in much the same way Bobby Troup once celebrated America's "Route 66," but Carton and Moran are smart enough to balance the romance of the road with an acknowledgment of the price it demands. In "To Win Just Once," they have crafted an anthem for the losers of the world, and in "Same Oul' Town," they have mixed affection and frustration in their portrait of their provincial hometown. --Geoffrey Himes
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CD Reviews
The Saw Doctors are Brilliant! Elizabeth | Memphis, TN | 01/24/2000 (5 out of 5 stars) "Finally my favorite band has a U.S. release! This CD is worth any money spent on it. The songs are classics and you'll want to play it over and over. If you love Ireland or Irish music, you MUST buy this album as well as the rest of the Docs' music! This brilliant band is finally crossing over into the states, a godsend for those of us not living in the Emerald Isle. Now we statespeople can really get down to having a good Irish time with some good Irish music." Great introduction to a great band Elizabeth | 08/14/2001 (5 out of 5 stars) "I saw the SawDoctors at Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA. I was first drawn by the enthusiasm of the crowd. I listened awhile, and really got into the music. I left with this CD in my hand. I hate to use the term "feel-good" because, to me, that denotes something bubblegum and sanitary. Instead, it brought on the feeling of hanging out with a bunch of friends and enjoying a casual brew. So instead of "feel-good" perhaps, camaraderie-building would be more apt. This CD was a great introduction for me. I plan to buy more." Great Stuff ! pete huston | 05/29/2000 (5 out of 5 stars) "This was my first Saw Doctors disc and I was very impressed. I have always been a huge Pogues fan and enjoyed traditional Irish music as well. This is a nice balance of tunes. "To win just once" describes my soccer team perfectly."
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