Search - Ballydose :: Land Bread

Celtic punk rock

J. Allen | 04/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never heard anything quite like it. this is one of the most original bands i've ever heard. they use madolins, violins, bagpipes, and other instruments. Andrew Mandell, the x-lead screamer for Crashdog yells for this band. His wife is the other singer. it's quite apperent that Andrew can't do anything except punk. His wife has a beautyfull voice. Some songs are fast and some are slow. Brian Grover from Crashdog also plays the bass. Some songs have more of the Celtic influence then punk, and others is more straight up punk rock with little celtic influences. There is not one song on this album i don't like."

Not Christian Radio-Ready...

J. Allen | Hattiesburg, MS USA | 05/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first picked up this CD a year or so after it was released, I suppose, while I was in high school, and had been on a folk/Celtic kick for a while, besides having enjoyed punk and ska for a few years. I was hooked on Ballydowse after my first listen, though I found that few of my friends were as enthused. Nonetheless, I have continued to enjoy this album immensely: the music is a fine blend of somewhat lo-fi Celtic-Gyspy-punk, which makes you want to start a revolution even if the lyrics didn't. The lyrics present an approach to politics, economics, and society that, alas, are largely missing from contemporary Christian (or otherwise) discourse, Left or Right (though if you like Ballydowse I also suggest the somewhat similar in terms of genre-bending folk-punk and Jesus-radicalism band The Psalters). This isn't Pat Robertson or Jim Wallis, boys and girls. While you don't have to agree with everything Ballydowse is saying, you can't help but admire their courage, and the manner in which their Jesus-radicalism is conveyed: with verve and innovation, resonating lyrics and urgent delivery, calling for a revolution- as much an internal personal one as anything else."

You don't need to be Christian to like this band.

Spaceapeman | Lynn, MA | 07/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ballydowse might be a Christian band, but you wouldn't even know it unless you read the other reviews. The lyrics aren't preachy, and they seem to be more of a liberal type of Christians than belligerent right wingers. At any rate they play a good blend of celtic folk (and even klezmer and aborignial on some songs) and punk style rock. In addition to the rock instruments they play fiddle, mandolin & bagpipes. If you like Flogging Molly, Pogues, Dropkick Murphy's you will like this band, Christian or not."