California Celts "s/t" Invisible Mass Records
Release date: 2010
Running Time: 32:27, 10 tracks
The California Celts come from a former band called Sally's Gap. Sally's Gap was born in 2002 and they released an album called "Monkey Bone" in 2004 which is still available at CDbaby. The core of the band was "Johnny the Fox" and a couple of Warsaw Poland Bros members. Apparently the band evolved and some musicians got in and others got out.
Unfortunately, the California Celts CD has no booklet. A list of musicians is stated at the back, but it is not said who plays what, who were members and who were guests.
However, having a look to their websites, I think that this could be their line-up when the CD was finished:
Chris Poland - Vocals, bagpipes, sax, guitar, bass
Tomy Cooper - Trumpet, bass, vocals
David Macias - Lead Guitar, vocals
Anwar "Himself" Hines - Drums
Mike Casares "Pirate Mike" - Rythm Guitar, bass, vocals
Eric Biggins "E-Force" - Banjo
Katie "Ska Queen" Presley - Trumpet, penny whistle, vocals
So, how do the California Celts sound?
"Pioneers of the genre Celtic Ska the Cali Celts are the West Coast’s Scottish answer to the Dropkick Murphys. The lads skillfully blend Punk and Reggae much like the Clash or a Celtic Bad Brains."
No, don't expect punk lyrics. Neither oi! choruses, nor powerful bagpipes. When you read "West Coast's Scottish answer to Dropkick Murphys", you could be misled.
Yes, there are many Caribbean influences, but don't expect something similar to The Trojans "Celtic Ska".
Does this mean that the album is not worth hearing? Quite the contrary. Forget those descriptions and if you are looking for something different at the current Celtic punk scene, try the California Celts.
Most of the tracks of the album are traditional songs or traditional songs whose lyrics has been changed, but they have written some strong original numbers too.
"Wild Mountain Thyme" is a correct punk cover, even if I feel that the vocals are not strong enough.
"Halway to Patty's Day" is an original song that recalls me those Ashley Hutchings "Morris On" albums. A nice track.
"Go Tell Ma" is an "I Tell Me Ma" reggae cover, another number that works and one of my favourites. I cannot tell the same about the next song, "Celtic Sound", a raggamuffin number, even if it features the bagpipes.
"Hills of Yucca Valley" ("Hills of Connemara") is another punk cover that I have particularly enjoyed. "Gentleman Soldier" is close to The Pogues version, but, IMHO, both male and female vocals are not as good as they should.
Track no. 7, "California Celts" is a catchy Caribbean song, very good. Together with the next three tracks, they are the best moments of the CD. "The Town I Loved so Well", another reggae version, is one of my favourites, and the level is really high. Track no. 9 should be "Dublin at the Rare Auld Times", but it is really "Monkey Bone", another fantastic Caribbean number which has a slight Waterboys "Fisherman's Blues" era feel and which features "The Irish Washerwoman" at the end of the song. And track 10 is not "Monkey Bone", but "Dublin at the Rare Auld Times" a rendition similar to Flogging Molly's.
As I told previously, if you are looking for something fresh, give The California Celts a chance.
Tracklist:
01 - Wild Mountain Thyme 2:34
02 - Half Way to Patty's Day 3:08
03 - Go Tell Ma 3:15
04 - Celtic Sound 3:34
05 - Hills of Yucca Valley 2:19
06 - Gentleman Soldier 2:31
07 - California Celts Theme 3:09
08 - Town I Loved so Well 3:25
09 - Dublin in the Rare Auld Times 3:13
10 - Monkey Bone 5:20
www.californiacelts.com
www.myspace.com/californiacelts
www.reverbnation.com/californiacrix
www.cdbaby.com/cd/CaliforniaCelts (click to buy the CD)
Review by Kinksmarkham
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Wow! Thank you for the Review of The California Celts new debut CD! It was definitely a labor of love, which we are very proud of. Since the release the band has continued to grow with new music, lyrics, and a new CD on the horizon.
ReplyDeleteThe California Celt’s live performances transpire a whole new dimension to their music. Not many artists today provide audience participation and off the wall antics inspiring the audience to dance and sing with the band.
We invite you to come and share a pint any time.
Chris Poland himself was very impressed at your detail and wealth of knowledge. Tho he did wish to add his own insight stating "the correct name of the Trojans song is Galic Ska and it does sound very much like our version of Whiskey in the Jar" - Chris Poland
You may also enjoy the Warsaw Poland Brothers, though a mostly free spirited punk rock band, every so often kilt up for the occasion.
- Thanks again!
- The California Celts
Invisible Mass Records
While I'm certainly not as well versed in the matter as any member of The California Celts, or the author of the review, I have heard the album. I think anyone is capable of commenting on music. I can express my opinions of the music as it stands. The here and now of it.
ReplyDeleteThe statements about track #4: "Celtic Sound", are some of the most revealing about this author and review. The author’s opinion is that the song is "a ragamuffin number". The language use “ragamuffin"( is particularly harsh - conjuring images of a poorly assembled, off beat calamity, one might find in the garage of a high school student. The song is very well put together. The tone and beat inspire movement and joy. I do not think it’s very possible for many people to not dance to this song. The lyrics are expressive, genuine, and definitely well timed. What then makes this tune worthy of the label "ragamuffin"?
In looking at the statements of this author, the songs he/she chooses to employ on this blog, and the ones from the album which are praised. I believe his/her opinions stem from the style of the song, rather than its clarity, execution, depth, or how enjoyable it is. This song especially, the Ska or Punk in the traditional sense is much subtler. Which I think this Author wants to see a Strong and noticeable presence. This song is a bit more… mm.. pop – punk sounding. It has very emphasized beat and a bit of freestyle flare. This is something to be cherished. There’s nothing worse than buying an album that has nothing but the exact same style, type, and rhythm for every song. Having powerful change that flows seamlessly and does not make the album feel like a jumble, is an incredible feat! The styles that this author seems to prefer are much more traditional. The Author mentions that the Celtic Ska label is misleading. But its only misleading if you choose to see all Ska music as the same type of sound created over and over again. As I have been taught Ska music actually refers to the length and emphasis of the notes. You see back when Ska was created they liked to play the base in a way that made the sound much shorter – rather than allowing the sound from the instrument into elongated notes. That’s the essence of Ska. The California Celts – while they do combine the styles of people and music on a world-wide scale still maintain this staccato like playing style.
So it’s an adaptation or re-inventing of the Ska tradition. This can be expressed as a new Genre of music, which is entirely what the Celts have done.\
Tell me what you think! You can listen to the music here : http://www.last.fm/music/The+California+Celts/The+California+Celts/Celtic+Sound
Works Cited :
Kinksmarkham. “REVIEW - THE CALIFORNIA CELTS - "s/t" (2010).” Blog-Zine: Celtic-Folk-Punk. Blogger.com. Web. Feb. 11, 2011.
The California Celts. “Celtic Sound”. The California Celts. recording manufacturer unknown. 2010. CD.
Hey Destiny!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback.
I would like to clarify 2 points, as it seems that they are not clear enough:
1) I only say that, IMHO, track no. 4 is not as good as other tracks. Please note that I have never written "ragamuffin", but raggamuffin, a sub-genre of regage: "The term raggamuffin is an intentional misspelling of ragamuffin, a word that entered the Jamaican Patois lexicon after the British Empire colonized Jamaica in the 17th century. Despite the British colonialists' pejorative application of the term, Jamaican youth appropriated it as an ingroup designation. The term raggamuffin music describes the music of Jamaica's "ghetto youths" (from Wikipedia)
2)Fortunately, the approach of the California Celts is open and one can hear different types of music. Please note that I have not written Celtic Ska as a sub-genre, but "The Trojans "Celtic Ska"". That's the name of an album. That album features Celtic Ska and Celtic Dub only. Some elements are common, but The California Celts' musical world is bigger than that.
As you can see, both of us have enjoyed the album, even if our opinions on some tracks can be different.
Yes Thank you SO very much for the responce to my comments. I appologise if they seemed a bit odd. I really love this bands music! - and secretly - I'm trying to practice my writing. So what better way than to combine ones loves of music And writing! I'm So glad you did the review and I will try to read more of your blogs. - My appologies about the Raggamuffin lol I didn't know :) I really want to learn more about music and history etc.
ReplyDelete