Search - Boiled in Lead :: Alloy

Truly Original

Theo Logos | Pittsburgh, PA | 07/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most people you meet will never have heard of Boiled in Lead, but chances are that everyone you know who has heard of them loves them. For two decades and through numerous personnel changes, Boiled in Lead remained a unique and unclassifiable folk band, playing re-imagining traditional folk tunes with new life and vigor, and creating wildly creative original tunes. Their style of play ranged between mellow acoustic and head-banging electric. While some have tried to classify them as celtopunk or rock and reel, the strong Eastern European and Middle Eastern influences evident in their work shows how effectively they defied labels. The inability to put them into an easily identifiable niche is in large part responsible for both their obscurity and their ability to attracted a devote cult following among the musically discerning.

`Alloy', which covers 15 years worth of their material, is the only Boiled in Lead CD presently available directly from Amazon (although Amazon lists their other albums and gives links to find them used). It is an excellent representation of their work, displaying everything from their sweetest sounding, traditional Celtic ballads and tunes (`The Dreadnaght', `Jamie Across the Water'), to their harshest head-banging material (`F**k the Circus'). `Pontiaka' and `Neda Voda' show off the band's Middle Eastern influences, while Arpad's Guz shows obvious signs of Eastern European influence. `Newry Highwayman' and `Step it Out Mary' display the band's trademark ability to deliver high energy, rocking renditions of traditional Anglo-Celtic songs. Microorganism is a slyly humorous original song about the dangers of "love", while `Madman Mora Blues' and `Puking in the Heather' are catchy, lively songs about the consequences of having too good a time. `Army (Dream Song)', another original song, has a haunting, surreal quality, and is one of their best. And their rollicking cover of Boney M's `Rasputin' is almost too much fun, and nearly worth the price of the CD by itself.

Though the songs on Alloy appeared on previous Boiled in Lead CDs, most of them are live cuts, outtakes and alternate mixes, so even if you have other Boiled in Lead CDs, most of what you hear in this retrospective will still sound fresh. It is only fair to include the warning that once you have listened to the wildly creative work on Alloy you will likely be impelled to search out and buy all the rest of Boiled in Lead's albums, so listen at your own risk. I give Alloy and Boiled in Lead my highest of recommendations.



Theo Logos

"

Maybe the best folk rock band around

Michael Toland | Austin, TX USA | 01/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alloy, which is a compilation, was my first CD from Boiled in Lead, but I guarantee it won't be my last. They may very well be the best folk rock band going. They combine melodies from Celtic and Scandanavian sources with rhythms from all over the world, rock 'n' roll muscle and a sense of humor. This CD covers over ten years of Bil music, with different lead singers, fiddlers, etc., but it's always consistently good, no matter what the era. Recommended!"

Folk rock that really rocks!

Maggie the Lizard Tamer | NY, NY | 10/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You wouldn't really think that something called "folk rock" could possibly be cool. Until, of course, you listen to Boiled In Lead. This band is made of obviously extremely skilled musicians who are not afraid to try any instruments nor lyrics. The result? Songs such as "The Microorganism" or "Rasputin" - I mean, can YOUR rock music make beautiful music while singing about "vicious flying llamas"?
This CD is a compilation of music by Boiled In Lead - not really the best of, because all their music is superb. I recommend it for everyone who's a bit tired of the mainstream rock and wants to expand their musical horizons. Make sure you turn on your sense of humor before you pop in a Boiled in Lead cd. Have fun."