The Bay Street Bastards "s/t" Self-released
Release date: 29 November 2014
Running time: 31:21, 7 tracks
The Bay Street Bastards are our current Band of the Month. This Canadian seven piece band released their 7 track debut album at the end of 2014. Several interesting CDs from Canada have been reviewed recently (The Shillelaghs "Bury Me at Sea" and River Jacks "s/t") and this one can be filed together with them. Why? Because The Bay Street Bastards also play their own brand of Celtic/folk punk based on self-penned numbers and they don’t try to follow the two well-known “schools” (Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly), but to develop their own sound which is Canadian to the core. In fact, instruments such as cello are not usual in the folk punk bands, and the drumming is really peculiar.
The album begins with “Same Old Shenanigans”, a song about a great night (drinking and fighting). This number sets the pace for the rest of the album: guitars, backing accordion, special drumming, gang vocals and a cello part at the end of the song.
The second track is titled "Arthur’s Port". Thunder Bay city was born in 1969 when the towns of Fort William and Port Arthur merged. There is some banjo, an overall epic sound and sing along chorus on this number about living and working at the docks in Arthur’s Port.
“Fool’s Gold” is another fast-paced punk number with a working class twist: “I don’t give a fuck what you say / I don’t give a fuck about the money you make / I don’t want to hear of those cars you drive or vacations that you take / You think us sheep are all the same / Cause life’s so hard when everyone knows your name”
The following song is one of my faves. In fact the guys have a lyrics video on YouTube for this number. “Distill My Beating Heart” is a love song to whiskey and beer. It has a folkier touch with accordion, cello, and, I think, glockenspiel. A fantastic number to sing along at the bar.
“Rum Runners from Hell” is the “different” number on the album. A sort of a psychobilly song about Al Capone coming back from hell to bootleg Satan’s booze. Great lyrics!
The CD is coming to its end and the level goes higher.”Slappywags” is, IMHO, the best song on the album. Banjo, fiddle and accordion can be heard on this tribute to their “greatest little boozer”, Slappywags. Yes The Bay Street Bastards write song about alcohol, but also about bars.
The last song has the word “last” on its title: “Last Call”. I love this song too: fiddle, accordion, guitar work, backing vocals and a Whiskey Wagon attitude. Lyrically the song is close to the opening number.
The Bays Street Bastards self-titled album is packed in a jewel case. It has a 14 page booklet with all of the lyrics, a black and white pic of the band and pics of every single member. The back cover looks like a restaurant bill on which the dishes are the songs titles. Curiously, the guys forgot to include the credits: the line-up is not mentioned and there is no info about where the album was recorded and who produced, recorded, mixed or mastered the album.
Canada keeps on offering kick-ass bands that have something new and different to add to the Celtic/folk punk scene. Grab a copy of The Bay Street Bastards CD and a glass or your favourite beer or whiskey and enjoy them together.
Tracklist:
1 - Same Ol Shenanigan's 2:50
2 - Arthurs Port 3:56
3 - Fools Gold 3:21
4 - Distill My Beating Heart 5:22
5 - Rum Runners from Hell 5:38
6 - Slappywag's 4:27
7 - Last Call 5:20
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Click to buy:
iTunes
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Review by Kinksmarkham
Release date: 29 November 2014
Running time: 31:21, 7 tracks
The Bay Street Bastards are our current Band of the Month. This Canadian seven piece band released their 7 track debut album at the end of 2014. Several interesting CDs from Canada have been reviewed recently (The Shillelaghs "Bury Me at Sea" and River Jacks "s/t") and this one can be filed together with them. Why? Because The Bay Street Bastards also play their own brand of Celtic/folk punk based on self-penned numbers and they don’t try to follow the two well-known “schools” (Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly), but to develop their own sound which is Canadian to the core. In fact, instruments such as cello are not usual in the folk punk bands, and the drumming is really peculiar.
The album begins with “Same Old Shenanigans”, a song about a great night (drinking and fighting). This number sets the pace for the rest of the album: guitars, backing accordion, special drumming, gang vocals and a cello part at the end of the song.
The second track is titled "Arthur’s Port". Thunder Bay city was born in 1969 when the towns of Fort William and Port Arthur merged. There is some banjo, an overall epic sound and sing along chorus on this number about living and working at the docks in Arthur’s Port.
“Fool’s Gold” is another fast-paced punk number with a working class twist: “I don’t give a fuck what you say / I don’t give a fuck about the money you make / I don’t want to hear of those cars you drive or vacations that you take / You think us sheep are all the same / Cause life’s so hard when everyone knows your name”
The following song is one of my faves. In fact the guys have a lyrics video on YouTube for this number. “Distill My Beating Heart” is a love song to whiskey and beer. It has a folkier touch with accordion, cello, and, I think, glockenspiel. A fantastic number to sing along at the bar.
“Rum Runners from Hell” is the “different” number on the album. A sort of a psychobilly song about Al Capone coming back from hell to bootleg Satan’s booze. Great lyrics!
The CD is coming to its end and the level goes higher.”Slappywags” is, IMHO, the best song on the album. Banjo, fiddle and accordion can be heard on this tribute to their “greatest little boozer”, Slappywags. Yes The Bay Street Bastards write song about alcohol, but also about bars.
The last song has the word “last” on its title: “Last Call”. I love this song too: fiddle, accordion, guitar work, backing vocals and a Whiskey Wagon attitude. Lyrically the song is close to the opening number.
The Bays Street Bastards self-titled album is packed in a jewel case. It has a 14 page booklet with all of the lyrics, a black and white pic of the band and pics of every single member. The back cover looks like a restaurant bill on which the dishes are the songs titles. Curiously, the guys forgot to include the credits: the line-up is not mentioned and there is no info about where the album was recorded and who produced, recorded, mixed or mastered the album.
Canada keeps on offering kick-ass bands that have something new and different to add to the Celtic/folk punk scene. Grab a copy of The Bay Street Bastards CD and a glass or your favourite beer or whiskey and enjoy them together.
Tracklist:
1 - Same Ol Shenanigan's 2:50
2 - Arthurs Port 3:56
3 - Fools Gold 3:21
4 - Distill My Beating Heart 5:22
5 - Rum Runners from Hell 5:38
6 - Slappywag's 4:27
7 - Last Call 5:20
Reverbnation
CBC
Click to buy:
iTunes
Amazon
Review by Kinksmarkham
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