Scrum “Killing Time”
Scrum SCR 006
Release date: 2010
Running time: 52:43, 15 tracks
I recently got an e-mail from a fan: “Hi Man, I’ve just come across this Dutch band. You should check them. They are better than Mr. Irish Bastard and Circle J, deffo!” Better than Mr. Irish Bastard and Circle J? I had to check them, of course.
Scrum is a six piece band that has released a couple of studio albums and an acoustic live mini-album. “Killing Time”, their second studio album, was released at the end of 2010 and features guitar banjo, mandolin, bagpipes, tin whistle, fiddle, bass and drums. After having listened to the album for the last 10 days I had to say that this will be one of the Top 3 albums of 2011. At least, it’s the best album that I have reviewed this year. A top-notch band, great vocals by Skottie, excellent fiddling by Maurits and piping by Barney, and the rest of the band are also top level musicians. A real Celtic rock band with a punk edge, these guys can rival the likes of Flogging Molly, Firkin, Fiddler’s Green or Paddy and the Rats.
The songwriting duties are shared by Skottie (Robin Slutter: vocals, guitar, banjo and mandolin), Marco Huselboos (bass, vocals) and Robin Abma (guitar, vocals). Lyrics about love, losers, modern society, Scotland, pubs … Fifteen tracks, only 3 covers and no clunker!!! I love these guys.
The best tracks of the album? It’s not easy to pick only three or four, all of them are great. Anyway, listen carefully to tracks such as “A Song About Absolutely Nothing”, “Fucks Ups”, “Killing Time”, “Under The Scotman’s Kilt” and “No Rain in the Pub”. Great sing-along and party songs.
“Killing Time”: a Flogging Molly influenced song, fiddle, banjo and bass at the highest level.
“Final Victory”: another party song. The fiddle reminds me of Paddy and the Rats, great chorus and excellent pipes.
“No Rain in the Pub”. These guys love Scottish music, but this polka song is the evidence that they also enjoy the the Sliabh Luachra polkas.
“Caledonia” Yes, Scrum love Scottish music. Top-notch version of this Dougie MacLean’s classic song. It features additional vocals by Laura Heitink and bagpipes and percussion at the end of the song.
“Dreamfighters”. More party songs. Great hard rock vocals and good work on the fiddle and whistle in a Paddy and the Rats meet Bob Geldof at his “Vegetarians of Love” era song.
“A Song about Absolutely Nothing” My fave. Skottie plays his mandolin. Then Barney plays his tin whistle. Then the rest of the band join them. And that Brian May style guitar just before Skottie go mad…
“The Hills of the Highlands” No, it isn’t a cover. Skottie has written the music and the lyrics are written by both Alexander Anderson and Skottie. Obviously, it features Barney’s bagpipes.
“Fucks Up” My second best. Now I understand why that guy told me that they are better than Circle J. Another Flogging Molly banjo led influenced song. The end of the song is amazing too!
“Loch Lomond”. Yes it’s a standard, but the boys have recorded an a capella version.
“Pirate Song” Celtic Rock, Celtic punk, Scottish ballads… and now a Pirate Song. These guy are really versatile, specially Skottie’s vocals: “Never touch me Rum!!!!"
“The Royal Oak” The second song about pubs. It reminds me of the songs that Paddy Schmidt used to sing when he was the leader of the German band Paddy Goes to Holyhead. See you in the pub!
“Under the Scotman’s Kilt”. A very good version of the song that was recorded by the songwriter from Tennessee Mike Cross back in 1979. The structure of the song is similar to that of “A Song About Absolutely Nothing”. First of all, Skottie plays his mandolin and then the storm bursts.
“Whisky Lullaby”. More hard rock influences and fiddling similar to Paddy and the Rats.
“Going Home” Maybe the most Dropckick Murphys style song of the album: great chrorus and f*cking good pipes. As good as Black Tartan Clan’s best moments.
“In the Arms of an Angel”. A lament in loving memory of James Slutter, 29 october 2005-17 April 2209. The vocals by Skottie come really from the depth of his soul.
Regarding the packaging, hats-off to Scrum. A digipack in which the window on the front is cut, pics of all the band members and a 20 page booklet with all the lyrics (including the covers) the credits and liner notes.
It is clear that I have really enjoyed “Killing Time”, since this band is a true gem. Now I’m wondering where I have spent the last 5 years. It’s time to get their previous albums!
Tracklist:
01 – Killing Time 3:07
02 – Final Victory 2:03
03 – No Rain in the Pub 2:54
04 – Caledonia 5:46
05 – Dreamfighters 3:05
06 – A Song about Absolutely Nothing 2:47
07 – The Hills in The Highlands 5:30
08 – Fucks Ups 3:23
09 – Loch Lomond 3:39
10 – Pirate Song 4:21
11 - The Royal Oak 2:59
12 – Under the Scotman’s Kilt 3:14
13 – Whisky Lullaby 2:34
14 – Going Home 2:35
15 - In the Arms of an Angel 4:46
http://www.scrummusic.nl
http://myspace.com/scrummusicnl
http://www.facebook.com/scrumprolibertate
http://www.twitter.com/Scrummusic
Click to buy the album:
http://cdmarket.eu/scrum-killing-time/eu/cdaudio/2310512
http://www.scrummusic.nl/shop-2/
Review by Kinksmarkham
.
Scrum SCR 006
Release date: 2010
Running time: 52:43, 15 tracks
I recently got an e-mail from a fan: “Hi Man, I’ve just come across this Dutch band. You should check them. They are better than Mr. Irish Bastard and Circle J, deffo!” Better than Mr. Irish Bastard and Circle J? I had to check them, of course.
Scrum is a six piece band that has released a couple of studio albums and an acoustic live mini-album. “Killing Time”, their second studio album, was released at the end of 2010 and features guitar banjo, mandolin, bagpipes, tin whistle, fiddle, bass and drums. After having listened to the album for the last 10 days I had to say that this will be one of the Top 3 albums of 2011. At least, it’s the best album that I have reviewed this year. A top-notch band, great vocals by Skottie, excellent fiddling by Maurits and piping by Barney, and the rest of the band are also top level musicians. A real Celtic rock band with a punk edge, these guys can rival the likes of Flogging Molly, Firkin, Fiddler’s Green or Paddy and the Rats.
The songwriting duties are shared by Skottie (Robin Slutter: vocals, guitar, banjo and mandolin), Marco Huselboos (bass, vocals) and Robin Abma (guitar, vocals). Lyrics about love, losers, modern society, Scotland, pubs … Fifteen tracks, only 3 covers and no clunker!!! I love these guys.
The best tracks of the album? It’s not easy to pick only three or four, all of them are great. Anyway, listen carefully to tracks such as “A Song About Absolutely Nothing”, “Fucks Ups”, “Killing Time”, “Under The Scotman’s Kilt” and “No Rain in the Pub”. Great sing-along and party songs.
“Killing Time”: a Flogging Molly influenced song, fiddle, banjo and bass at the highest level.
“Final Victory”: another party song. The fiddle reminds me of Paddy and the Rats, great chorus and excellent pipes.
“No Rain in the Pub”. These guys love Scottish music, but this polka song is the evidence that they also enjoy the the Sliabh Luachra polkas.
“Caledonia” Yes, Scrum love Scottish music. Top-notch version of this Dougie MacLean’s classic song. It features additional vocals by Laura Heitink and bagpipes and percussion at the end of the song.
“Dreamfighters”. More party songs. Great hard rock vocals and good work on the fiddle and whistle in a Paddy and the Rats meet Bob Geldof at his “Vegetarians of Love” era song.
“A Song about Absolutely Nothing” My fave. Skottie plays his mandolin. Then Barney plays his tin whistle. Then the rest of the band join them. And that Brian May style guitar just before Skottie go mad…
“The Hills of the Highlands” No, it isn’t a cover. Skottie has written the music and the lyrics are written by both Alexander Anderson and Skottie. Obviously, it features Barney’s bagpipes.
“Fucks Up” My second best. Now I understand why that guy told me that they are better than Circle J. Another Flogging Molly banjo led influenced song. The end of the song is amazing too!
“Loch Lomond”. Yes it’s a standard, but the boys have recorded an a capella version.
“Pirate Song” Celtic Rock, Celtic punk, Scottish ballads… and now a Pirate Song. These guy are really versatile, specially Skottie’s vocals: “Never touch me Rum!!!!"
“The Royal Oak” The second song about pubs. It reminds me of the songs that Paddy Schmidt used to sing when he was the leader of the German band Paddy Goes to Holyhead. See you in the pub!
“Under the Scotman’s Kilt”. A very good version of the song that was recorded by the songwriter from Tennessee Mike Cross back in 1979. The structure of the song is similar to that of “A Song About Absolutely Nothing”. First of all, Skottie plays his mandolin and then the storm bursts.
“Whisky Lullaby”. More hard rock influences and fiddling similar to Paddy and the Rats.
“Going Home” Maybe the most Dropckick Murphys style song of the album: great chrorus and f*cking good pipes. As good as Black Tartan Clan’s best moments.
“In the Arms of an Angel”. A lament in loving memory of James Slutter, 29 october 2005-17 April 2209. The vocals by Skottie come really from the depth of his soul.
Regarding the packaging, hats-off to Scrum. A digipack in which the window on the front is cut, pics of all the band members and a 20 page booklet with all the lyrics (including the covers) the credits and liner notes.
It is clear that I have really enjoyed “Killing Time”, since this band is a true gem. Now I’m wondering where I have spent the last 5 years. It’s time to get their previous albums!
Tracklist:
01 – Killing Time 3:07
02 – Final Victory 2:03
03 – No Rain in the Pub 2:54
04 – Caledonia 5:46
05 – Dreamfighters 3:05
06 – A Song about Absolutely Nothing 2:47
07 – The Hills in The Highlands 5:30
08 – Fucks Ups 3:23
09 – Loch Lomond 3:39
10 – Pirate Song 4:21
11 - The Royal Oak 2:59
12 – Under the Scotman’s Kilt 3:14
13 – Whisky Lullaby 2:34
14 – Going Home 2:35
15 - In the Arms of an Angel 4:46
http://www.scrummusic.nl
http://myspace.com/scrummusicnl
http://www.facebook.com/scrumprolibertate
http://www.twitter.com/Scrummusic
Click to buy the album:
http://cdmarket.eu/scrum-killing-time/eu/cdaudio/2310512
http://www.scrummusic.nl/shop-2/
Review by Kinksmarkham
.
No comments:
Post a Comment