FOUR MEN & A DOG: WALLOP THE SPOT
Cathal Hayden: fiddle, viola, banjo
Donal Murphy: accordion
Gerry O'Connor: banjo, fiddle, mandolin
Gino Lupari: vocals, bodhran, percussion
Kevin Doherty: vocals, guitar
and
Ciaran Tourish: fiddle
Arty McGlynn: guitar
James Delaney: piano
Nicky Scott, James Blennerhassett: bass
Liam Bradley, Jimmy Higgins: drums, percussion
FM&D were a big hit this summer (2007) at the Washington DC Folklife Festival, and expectations about their new album have been running high since. Well, the album is out, and the scores are in. It's not a perfect "10," but I feel like the band has finally made an album that sounds almost as good as their legendary first one. For that, we have to thank in part Donal Murphy whose great accordion playing is back in the mix. The instrumental work is top-notch, but clip yourself in, or you might get backlash… Once again, Gino Lupari successfully puts on the suave rocker’s voice, but Kevin Doherty is no Mick Daly and I keep feeling like skipping his songs. Good tunes though.
Rating: *** 1/2
Price: $24.99
Contents:
1. Reels: Lucy Campbells / Sporting Paddy / Old Pigeon On The Gate
2. Song: Bloomsday
3. Jigs & Reels: Hag's Purse / Tom Billy's / Johnny Doherty's / New Policeman / Teelin Reel
4. Song:/ The Greengrocer's Daughter
5. Polkas: Dan Murphy's / Tom Barrett's / Tarmon's Cross / Upperchurch Polka
6. Song: Low And Lonely
7. Jigs: The One That Was Lost / Crawford's / Wallop The Spot
8. Reels: Dick Cosgrove's / Micho’s Apron / Joe Skelton's
9. Song: Mary Anne
10. Melody: Song for PJ
11. Song:/ Turn me Loose
12. Jigs & Reels: Scatter The Mud / Cúil Aodha Jig / Within A Mile Of Dublin / Wissahicken Drive
13. Song: I don't want it
