The opinions of all are good and valuable in reviews. I thank you each for your input here. I would like to add a bit of my own if you don't mind.
It is no secret to anyone that I, TinkoftheSkullyStTeam, manage The Official Skully Street Team on My Space for my dear friend Skully. So, I am sure that it will come as no surprise that I am extremely fond of the IRISH MAKEOVER cd, electronics and all! LOL
But... I can understand what ridgeback77 has had to say here! And I do value the opinion and respect it.
Let me explian... I am Irish, clear down to my bones! I come from a family steeped in music. Grandad was an "Irish Tenor" (said with sheer reverance) and when he sang these songs... he sang them without accompaniment. He sang with a voice that was true and pure and resonated from the very depth of his soul. The memory of his voice is one of the most beautiful memories I have.
So, when Skully, who I had come to know and love as a friend and musician extraordinaire, first mentioned to me that he was working on an album where he was taking traditional Irish Folk Songs and "re-vamping" them in his own unique electronic style..... LOL
I cringed! LOL I did! I'll admit it! I gasped in traditionalistic horror and the fear that my dear friend... was making a terrible mistake by trying to do such a thing! LOL
But! After a moment, when I remembered how to breathe again... I thought 'But! LOL You know! If ANYONE could do this... it will be Skully!
And so I waited, and when Skully introduced me to these songs I found that some of them came to me as warm and welcome as a gentle and loving hug from a long parted friend. And I found a couple of them... because of my "traditional" relationship with them... took a bit of getting used to! LOL Some of them I had to take Skully's words into consideration as I listened. "There is no correct way to proform them" Which also meant there is no "incorrect" way. Which led me to listen again, to listen closer, to take each one in... as a fresh and new variation of a well loved song.
I soon found that my hesitation to enjoy them was just that... MY hesitation! And it vanished.
Now... all that said. I do hope that ridgeback77 will listen again and come to enjoy these songs, even just a small bit as much as I now do. But, if not, I would still like to thank you for the time and consideration that you gave in posting your opinion here. Everyones voice, everyones opinion, everyones song and their own way of singing it... or playing it... is good and valuable. And each should be respected.
Everyone here has said what I am thinking, so there is much more I can add!! Irish Makeover is wonderful as is Skully!!
Ridgeback77, Thank you for your input!! Whether positive or negative, all opinions are valuable! I too, was never into electronic music, but when I was introduced to Skully's music, I found that it is very beautiful! It really takes alot of work and knowledge to be able to make these beautiful songs in such a way. I am not Irish, but I had heard these old Irish folk songs before with traditional Irish musicians & instruments. I completely fell in love with them after hearing Irish Makeover! If you listen closely, you can hear Molly's wheelbarrow and the dropping of coins when Molly sells her wares! The CD has made me a fan of Irish music of all types, as it has opened my mind to the wonderful musicians of Ireland! I hope you will give it a second chance, and if you still are not a fan, then thank you for listening and giving your opinion.
Like I said, its the electronic style of music that I just cannot get into, no matter how many times I hear it (and not just here at CelticRadio.net). It's just one of the musical styles that does not work for me. I have nothing against the artists in that genre, because it does take a great deal of talent to create any style of music, but it is just a style that I don't like.
I understand! I can't listen to any kind of rap!!! Drives me nutso!!! lol!!! Thanks for your honesty though! Lots of other great music on Celtic Radio though!!!
Thanks ridgeback77 for coming back! Now I understand a little better. I agree with you. There will always be some sounds in music that are not everyone's cup of tea. I have never been much into Heavy Metal, especially Death Metal, which my sister used to listen to quite often. I loved classical music, maybe because I had taken up Ballet dancing. My music was noise in her ears and vice versa, but we did respect the effort and work that went into each individual style. I just felt bad for my uncle who had to tell us both to turn the music down.
Thank you Tink, you are brilliant and we all know the admiration and respect you have for Skully and know you have been a long time friend of this gorgeous man, as well as very knowledgeable in Irish / Celtic music as it is in your heart and soul as well as down to your bones.
Again, Berry, Tink and Irish at Heart, thanks, I needed to respond to this gentleman in greater length but you girls pretty much touched all bases with your intellect and background in music.
Everyone IS entitled to their own opinion, I have to agree that Rap is no talent/no brain-er type of, something, all it is talkin s__t to some type of musical background, that's not electronic background, is it? Heavy Metal is exactly what it says and if you want to bang your head around to some obnoxious wanna be's then go for it. Punk is another one, where do people get this stuff where you can yell off tune to something they say is music; after-all, we are all entitled to our own opinion !
So, hopefully, maybe this person will someday really take the time to really listen to Irish Makeover and Skully's other projects and realize that, OMG, wasn't that the soundtrack to that incredible Academy Award Movie, or didn't we hear that on that TV series, or perhaps have the opportunity to actually see Skully perform or meet this man and realize that he has had a opportunity to meet and/or see true talent emerge into the future. So, until then, we all know a good thing when we hear and see it.
Now the question is: where in heavens name will Skully keep our battle horses while we reapply our makeup and polish the armor?!
Ridgeback77, I hope you know I am teasing. It wasn't a battle, but friendly banter and exchanging of opinions. I'll also promise never to send you a link to 'Kraftwerk'!
Berry, Yes, here again, and ridgeback77, they are just opinions; Berry; your a fan of Kraftwerk? My son, one I live with, BIG fan of Kraftwerk, when he had his club, years ago, did afterparty for them...went to see them at weekend thing in Indio, think that was last year...I gotta go to bed..have been trying to send message to you on myspace, not working, hopefully tomorrow, please thank tink and sandy for me, and thank you. hugs, darlene
"Coachella!" weekend festival near Indio, California, every year. lots and lots of bands ~ Pink Floyd's big ole pig? got loose and floated away last year or year b4. see ya! darlene
Berry; you asked: Darlene, I wasn't the only princess in shining armor! Tink and Irishatheart did a great job along with you. Me: I know, got right back to that part.
You asked: Now the question is: where in heavens name will Skully keep our battle horses while we reapply our makeup and polish the armor?! Me: You know, I was wondering the same thing ~ hmmm
The radiance surrounding Skully on the “Irish Makeover” album cover photo is quite fitting! His creative composition of the instrumental layers in each track is captivating.
Kate Murphy’s harmonizing vocals along with Skully’s masterful work make “Blackbird” evocatively passionate. Mardyke”, "King of the Fairies" & “Shirin” are captivating instrumentations. “All around my hat” is upbeat, catchy and spirited.
Skully’s musical blend gives a breezy essence to the poignant ballad of “Molly Malone”. It is filled with fun sound effects: the sound of Molly dropping coins in her cloth hand bag, her wheelbarrow rolling across the cobblestone roads, the whistle of the grand cockle’s {yes they do, ‘I’ve been there’ -digging}, the gurgling/bubbling sound grand cockles make [in the sand], the cracking open of the grand cockle shells [CLACK], and my favourite [at the end] the ‘shwoooup’ sound of Molly’s ghost rushing past!
Each time you listen to a piece of Skully music, you hear a new instrumental effect that you missed on the prior listens. It’s NOT likely that you will tire of Skully’s music.
I would also like to compliment the writer of the article on "Irish Makeover" in the August 2009 newsletter. You have done a fine job capturing the "essence of Skully" and your write-up honours him!
You couldn't have said it any better, the article in the Newsletter is fantastic, and you are correct, it couldn't have captured Skully as a Awesome Artist any better. I know for a fact that Celtic Radio thinks very highly of Irish Makeover and has helped to promote Skully'smusic, reaching out to the listeners like you could ever imagine, and again, I can't say it enough, I THANK HIM, sincerely. If you haven't read the Article on Skully, please take a moment, this will help you get into this Artist talent and imagination. and his music.
What they said a Skully and Irish Makeover:
I really like the Irish Makeover CD. You can tell alot of work was put into the CD. I'm glad you kept reminding me about the CD.
Glad that Celtic Radio can help, it is all about the musicians and members and hopefully we can keep it going for many years in support of the musicians. We are really hoping maybe in a few years to offer scholarships to aspiring young musicians for Irish, Scottish and Celtic traditional music. So, we got alot of good things planned for the future!
Slainte, darlene
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~ See Member Name: "IrishBeachLassie" for info you may
need for "CaSkullyFan"; I combined the accounts to my
original Acct "IrishBeachLassie"
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