Creeds Cross "Gods & Fighting Men" Fiachra Records FR01401
Release date:3 March 2014
Running time: 37:08, 11 tracks
Creeds Cross is Bart Foley’s new project. As he clearly states at the Foreword (yes, the booklet has a foreword), after having spent a lot of time writing songs and performing for other people’s projects, he felt that he should go back to basics and write his own album. Even if he didn’t have a master plan, he knew that it should be a real Irish album, full of stories and it had to have a fiddle and a banjo.
He put together a lot of friends, Denis Dowling (guitars, bckg vocals), Pete Jupp (FM, drums & percussion), Bob Skeat (Wishbone Ash, bass), Pat McManus (Mama Boys/Celtus, fiddle), Brian Kelly (The Popes, banjo & mandolin) and Micki Hutchins (flute & whistle), and they recorded this 11 track album. With songs such as “The Irish Band”, “The Sam Maguire Cup”, “Gods & Fighting Men” and “Half a Chance”, it’s obvious that his project has been a huge success.
I’d say that the sound is very Irish on both the (hard) rock and the traditional ends. To put it in a nutshell, Creeds Cross could be defined as a cross between Goats Don’t Shave and The SawDoctors. The fiddle and banjo sounds make you travel to Donegal’s finest second album era, and the rocking attitude, guitars and lyrics move you to the band from Galway territory. If the SawDoctors have songs like “Red Cortina” and “Joyce Country Céilí Band”, Creeds Cross answer with “Half a Chance” and “The Irish Band”.
The album begins with and instrumental intro, the well-known “She Moved through the Fair” tune. It’s an ethereal number based on keyboards and flute, but the second track, “The Harvest” set the tone to the rest of the album: excellent fiddle and banjo, brilliant guitars and a superb rhythm section.
The following number is the first single from the album, “The Irish Band”. This catchy song features “The King of the Fairies” tune. I guess that it’s a sort of a tribute to Horslips. “The Irish Band” will soon become a classic song, since it’s perfect to sing-a-long at the pub.
Track 4 is the second single of the album. It’s a poignant song about emigration that SIR REG’s fans will appreciate. Not only have the Swedish band written songs about the same topic, but there is a similar sound on this number.
“The Sam Maguire Cup”, a song about the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, is another number that stands out. I love the gang vocals, the epic feeling and the drumming.
Hard rock albums normally have a ballad, and Creeds Cross' debut album has two, “Good Enough” and the last song, “A Lullaby”
Track 7 is an Irish rock at its best number. Do you want to know what happens when the guys get their wages on Friday? Then listen to “Gods & Fighting Men”, one of the top 4 songs on the album. “One two three / Then we’ll drink to all the dear departed / Friday nights are for gods and fighting men / We’ll drink until we’re sober / And then we’ll start again / Fridays are for gods and fighting men”
If “One By One” was a song about emigration, “I’m Coming Home” is the other side of the coin. Good rocking number with a slight The Corrs twist.
The next song is another powerful number about the Catholic Church influence on the Irish population. Be careful guys! The (effigy of The) Virgin Mary is watching YOU!!!
Finally, “Half a Chance” is a wonderful song about a kid’s first love.
Creeds Cross “Gods & Fighting Men” is a fantastic disc. Bart Foley and his mates have been able to re-write the Ireland’s musical history of the last 40 years in one album. Enjoy!
Tracklist:
01 - Intro / Irish Air 1:28
02 - The Harvest 3:24
03 - The Irish Band 4:03
04 - One by One 3:33
05 - The Sam Maguire Cup 3:35
06 - Good Enough 3:13
07 - Gods & Fighting Men 3:36
08 - I'm Coming Home 4:08
09 - The Virgin Mary 3:34
10 - Half a Chance 3:13
11 - A Lullabye 3:15
Website
Facebook
Reverbnation
Twitter
Click to buy:
Band's Store
iTunes
Review by Kinksmarkham
Release date:3 March 2014
Running time: 37:08, 11 tracks
Creeds Cross is Bart Foley’s new project. As he clearly states at the Foreword (yes, the booklet has a foreword), after having spent a lot of time writing songs and performing for other people’s projects, he felt that he should go back to basics and write his own album. Even if he didn’t have a master plan, he knew that it should be a real Irish album, full of stories and it had to have a fiddle and a banjo.
He put together a lot of friends, Denis Dowling (guitars, bckg vocals), Pete Jupp (FM, drums & percussion), Bob Skeat (Wishbone Ash, bass), Pat McManus (Mama Boys/Celtus, fiddle), Brian Kelly (The Popes, banjo & mandolin) and Micki Hutchins (flute & whistle), and they recorded this 11 track album. With songs such as “The Irish Band”, “The Sam Maguire Cup”, “Gods & Fighting Men” and “Half a Chance”, it’s obvious that his project has been a huge success.
I’d say that the sound is very Irish on both the (hard) rock and the traditional ends. To put it in a nutshell, Creeds Cross could be defined as a cross between Goats Don’t Shave and The SawDoctors. The fiddle and banjo sounds make you travel to Donegal’s finest second album era, and the rocking attitude, guitars and lyrics move you to the band from Galway territory. If the SawDoctors have songs like “Red Cortina” and “Joyce Country Céilí Band”, Creeds Cross answer with “Half a Chance” and “The Irish Band”.
The album begins with and instrumental intro, the well-known “She Moved through the Fair” tune. It’s an ethereal number based on keyboards and flute, but the second track, “The Harvest” set the tone to the rest of the album: excellent fiddle and banjo, brilliant guitars and a superb rhythm section.
The following number is the first single from the album, “The Irish Band”. This catchy song features “The King of the Fairies” tune. I guess that it’s a sort of a tribute to Horslips. “The Irish Band” will soon become a classic song, since it’s perfect to sing-a-long at the pub.
Track 4 is the second single of the album. It’s a poignant song about emigration that SIR REG’s fans will appreciate. Not only have the Swedish band written songs about the same topic, but there is a similar sound on this number.
“The Sam Maguire Cup”, a song about the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, is another number that stands out. I love the gang vocals, the epic feeling and the drumming.
Hard rock albums normally have a ballad, and Creeds Cross' debut album has two, “Good Enough” and the last song, “A Lullaby”
Track 7 is an Irish rock at its best number. Do you want to know what happens when the guys get their wages on Friday? Then listen to “Gods & Fighting Men”, one of the top 4 songs on the album. “One two three / Then we’ll drink to all the dear departed / Friday nights are for gods and fighting men / We’ll drink until we’re sober / And then we’ll start again / Fridays are for gods and fighting men”
If “One By One” was a song about emigration, “I’m Coming Home” is the other side of the coin. Good rocking number with a slight The Corrs twist.
The next song is another powerful number about the Catholic Church influence on the Irish population. Be careful guys! The (effigy of The) Virgin Mary is watching YOU!!!
Finally, “Half a Chance” is a wonderful song about a kid’s first love.
Creeds Cross “Gods & Fighting Men” is a fantastic disc. Bart Foley and his mates have been able to re-write the Ireland’s musical history of the last 40 years in one album. Enjoy!
Tracklist:
01 - Intro / Irish Air 1:28
02 - The Harvest 3:24
03 - The Irish Band 4:03
04 - One by One 3:33
05 - The Sam Maguire Cup 3:35
06 - Good Enough 3:13
07 - Gods & Fighting Men 3:36
08 - I'm Coming Home 4:08
09 - The Virgin Mary 3:34
10 - Half a Chance 3:13
11 - A Lullabye 3:15
Website
Reverbnation
Click to buy:
Band's Store
iTunes
Review by Kinksmarkham
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