Ballydowse comes out of the JPUSA community in Chicago. A community widely known for its social concern. That Ballydowse is a brainchild of JPUSA is clear from the very first second of this release. It starts with a sample of a reporter asking foreign minister Albright about the Iraq sanctions. The song that follows it, Weapon Of Mass Destruction, deals with this issue and the social consequences for the population. Musically the vehicle of this message is dark and full of Irish/folkish elements. In some parts you can hear violin, concertina and mandolin. Or the Australian folk instrument: Didgeridoo. There's a heavy rock basis. Result is an original album. Vocals are mainly handled by Andrew Mandell (formerly of punkband Crashdog) and Robina Mandell. Personally I prefer the heavier tracks like January 18 1943 and The Channel. Sometimes the guitars could be heavier in the mix to make it a little more powerful. Nevertheless, this is a good album. For all of you who would like to hear a Yiddish wedding song, listen to Honga And Freylekhs From Podoloy. It's not a song with heavy guitars and yet it has energy. It sure will move feet and build a party.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinIndubitably Ballydowse's eclectic brand of music is an acquired taste, but not nearly so difficult to acquire as it might at first seem. However, a behind-the-scenes glimpse of their pitch session to a major corporate music executive illuminates the difficulty of their unique situation. The top-secret transcript of that first pitch session follows: Ballydowse: Hi. Thanks so much for your…Similar sounding releases
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