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Sunday, March 20, 2011

REVIEW : THE DUNN BOYS "Volume I" Self released (2011)


The Dunn Boys "Volume 1"
Release Date: 2011
Running time: 30:07, 11 tracks


Volume I” is the debut album by The Dunn Boys. The band is fronted by Jason Dunn (songwriting, vocals, mandolin, guitar, piano) backed by his brothers Josiah (drums) and Jacob (bass) and his father Paul (vocals, guitar, banjo ) and they play their own brand of Celtic rock with a Canadian twist.

The 11 track album has been produced by the band and the sound is really fresh. Neither bagpipes, nor whiskey soaked vocals, but a bunch of great catchy songs and ballads.

Mullac Abu” opens the album, a short intro that is followed by the sing-along “Nova Scotia” and “Brian Moore”, my fave and a song that will become a classic.

Track no. 4 “Ballad of Danny Fitzgerald” features piano and is a good slow number. Track no. 6, “McCreary’s Battle” is another slow number featuring accordion. Just between them, another great Celtic rock anthem, “Sydney Harbour”: mix a drop of McGillicuddys, a drop of The Peelers and some drops of Great Big Sea and you got that.

"St. Jerome" (track no. 7) also features piano. I love it because the sound is similar to Uisce Beatha, another Canadian band that released a couple of albums in the 90’s before changing their name to Red.

The next number, “Norland” is another excellent Celtic rock number with a party side. Maybe it is the most Flogging Molly sounding track of "Volume I".

Between tracks no. 9 and track no. 11 there is a good rendition of “Black Velvet Band” that follows DKM steps.

I have decided to put together “Rosaline” and “Lullaby” because these love songs featuring piano (the former) and strings arrangements (the latter) have a similar style that remembers Billy Bragg’s love songs at his “Worker’s Playtime” era.

The Dunn Boys are not from Nova Scotia, even if they mention that province in several of their songs, but from Peterborough, Ontario. They are proud of their Canadian origin and therefore they put that special stamp on all the songs they write. Perhaps the Celtic punk diehard fans may feel that some of the tracks are mellow. However I have enjoyed both sides of the band and hope to hear more from them in the near future.



Tracklist:

01. Mullac Abu 0:22
02. Nova Scotia 1:44
03. Brian Moore 1:58
04. Ballad of Danny Fitzgerald 3:20
05. Sydney Harbour 1:45
06. McCreary's Battle 3:34
07. St. Jerome 3:12
08. Norland 2.29
09. Rosaline 4:55
10. Black Velvet Band 3:20
11. Lullaby 3.25



http://www.myspace.com/thedunnboys
http://www.reverbnation.com/thedunnboys
http://twitter.com/thedunnboys

http://www.thedunnboys.bigcartel.com (click to buy)

Review by Kinksmarkham


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