Search - Ashley MacIsaac :: Ashley Macisaac

This Is Not Your Father's Irish Music

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 06/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Growing up, my father listened to Irish music on a local AM station. Many of the songs were dirges. Others seemed to talk only about mother (not that there is anything wrong with Irish mothers) or the merits of joining the Irish Republican Army. I decided that I hated Irish music, until the Riverdance craze and a visit to Ireland. Then I became an Irish music purist and only enjoyed true Celtic music. Ashley MacIsaac seems to be able to combine the Celtic music I would like with the catchiness of the Irish music my father would enjoy in a well balanced compilation of Celtic-American music. Ashley MacIsaac's self titled CD certainly puts new life in Celtic music. He plays a mean fiddle and is a good vocalist as well. His music is catchy and would be at home in an Irish pub or an American watering hole. The opening song "Cello Song" sets the gritty Celtic tone of the album. The Gaelic words of "To America We Go" show the authenticity of the music. Even his remake of the often tired "Mull of Kintyre" is refreshing. The lyrics of most of his songs seem more at home in North America than Ireland, but this is not a fault. If anything, it shows the ways in which Celtic music is a major influence the world over."

Breaking the Door down

renee | detroit, MI United States | 06/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ashley's new album is brilliant! Many people who love Ashley's music may not understand it right away, because it's not as traditional as some of his other work. However, anyone who loves great music will love this album, because it has something for everybody. It's got plenty of amazing Fiddle music very much in the Cape Bretton tradition, its just masked by other fantastic elements. There are more Gaelic songs on this album the others (I think). there are traditional songs, with a new and amazing twist. Mary Jane Lammond appears on the album, so it's worth it just for that. also, Ashley does a lot of singing on the new album, and his voice is very interesting. not to mention that he tells us who he really is in this album, and you have to commend him for that. so, I say BUY THIS ALBUM! You just may learn something!"

Dashed Expectations, Smashed Categorization, Great Set

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 06/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I find Ashley MacIsaac's new self-titled CD to be excellent. While he may dash the expectations of those who want him to repeat his previous work, he continues to smash categorization and come up with a great set of traditional Breton-style fiddle/rock fusion. One of my two very favorite tracks is "Lay Me Down" where Ashley's singing is impassioned on this rocking romantic smash, "You are my sun, my moon, my stars, forever yours, forever free, together as one, the world is ours; you are my destiny." I'm wearing out the repeat button this classic love song! My other favorite is also by the same writing team of Rick Guard & Stan Rice with Ashley's vocals powerfully front and center; "I Don't Need This" is fast flowing rock propulsion with Ashley particularly spitting out the lyric, "I could do without your verbal & I'm meeting someone herbal & you better not bring me tea." Nick Drake's "Cello Song" is a smooth opener with Ashley's fiddle performing stratospheric pyrotechnics. Ashley uses some female guest vocalists which gives nice variety to this set: Lisa MacIsaac on "Save Me From Tomorrow," Mary Jane Lamond doing a sprightly Gaelic chorus on "To America We Go," and Lara Gray on "This Is My Father." It was a PBS segment that made me aware of Ashley's new CD. It was interesting to hear that he is gay, about his great love of music, and the creation of this CD. The songs nearer the beginning seem stronger to me, but the musicianship is superlative throughout. This is one will be stuck in my changer this summer! Enjoy!"