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Fit?
Old Blind Dogs
Green Linnet
- List price: $16.98
- Lowest new price: $11.18
- Lowest used price: $6.91
Is There For Honest Poverty- Come A' Ye Kincardine Lads
- Much Better Now
- Tramps and Hawkers
- Country Girl
- Sky City
- Reres Hill
- The Rejected Suitor
- Awa' Whigs Awa'
- Cuilfhionn
- Black-Haired Lad
- Tatties and Herrin'
Average customer rating:
Must have album if you like your trad Scottish Music lively
If you like your traditional Scottish music with a lively rhythm, this is a must have album. This is the second incarnation of Old Blind Dogs with Ian Benzie replaced by Jim Malcolm for vocal leads (and flute), and Davey Cattanach wild snare drum set with congas percussion by Paul Jennings djembe, congas and snare drum set. The returning members of the original group are Jonny Hardie on fiddle / guitar and Buzzby McMillan on Cittern (a large, traditional, Scottish mandolin instrument) and bass guitar. Rory Campbell is added to the group and provides excellent Border bagpipes and whistle.
Old Blind Dog here continues in the pace set by the original group with percussion driven, creative arrangements of traditional music. It is more traditional than Capercaille but the modern percussion sets it apart from the older generation bands, such as Tannyhill Weavers, Battlefield Band and Silly Wizard. Track one sets the fast pace with "Is There for Honest Poverty" a criticism of the nobility of court in contrast to the common man with "the pith o' sense an' pride o'worth - Are higher rank than a' that." The CD can be played straight through with no exceptions to all high quality tracks. The album ends with a non instrumental, voices and harmony only "Tatties and Herrin" - a tribute to a favorite Aberdeen and other sea port city fast food (potato pastry and fried fish). Unlike previous albums, this one provides the lyrics in Scottish English (a most delightful art form).
I would rank "Fit?" altogether an equal to my other two favorite original group Old Blind Dogs albums, "Live" and "Close to the Bone." The 1999 album "Live" has more of an unplugged accoustic feel to it, which accents Buzzby's excellent Cittern. However, the Bagpipes in "Fit?" are an equal trade off. As a set, these albums are great listening, great to play to, and great to sing Scottish (Aberdeen) accent lyrics to. I currently own second copies of each album after playing the my first CD's to death.
The group lost Buzzby after this album and the newest OBD simply has its own new chemistry that is different. Unfortunately, this leaves me missing the high energy of Ian, Dave and Buzzby. Maybe the next incarnation of the band will return to its high energy roots.
Celtic at its best!
This is a wonderful Old Blind Dogs CD. Track 7 - Reres Hill - is one of the lovliest songs I have ever heard, and Jim Malcolm's voice is sublime. The instrumentals are fantastic as well. Jim is off on his own now, so if you want a wonderful taste of OBD together, this is it. I also highly recommend Old Blind Dogs Play live!
excellent!
I have every OBD CD except for one, and although I wouldn't say this one is my favorite (that is always reserved for The World's Room) this is definently the CD that sticks out in my mind the most.
It screams Scottish pride to me, really. A lot of the songs actually have a swanky, bluegrassy, almost country feel to them in parts (but not overwhelmingly or unpleasantly so), and I suppose that distinguishes it.
Jim Malcom, as always, sings flawlessly. He brings a very smooth, sexy, irresistable flavor to the CD. All the CD's with Jim Malcom are wonderful (as his solo stuff is great too).
There are a fare bit of instrumental songs on Fit?...most featuring the star piping of Rory. I think the Piping is most exceptional on this CD, over all the others.
But like I said, it screams Scottish pride. The songs selected, the tunes, the voices and instruments (even with that funky drum) make me feel alive and sunny and Scottish! And Jim's Aberdonian accent is a must hear!
as good as it gets!
This band is amazing and this is my favorite cd of theirs (but all of them I've heard are great). I have been into Celtic music for a long time, but my teenage son and all of his friends love this cd, and they are mostly into punk and ska. The perfect blend of contemporary and traditional. Malcolm's vocals are smooth, deep and FIT? perfectly with the grooves of the tunes. The turns that most of the songs take keep everything exciting, especially the time changes. The instrumental mixes vary and are always played with the touch of a master. After listening to this cd 30 or 40 times you still have to hear it again and again.
Just buy it.
Fantastic melodies, beautiful vocals, outstanding playing. I can't decide which I like better, "Fit?" or "World's Room". In either case, "Fit?" has become a CD that I don't file back into the bookshelf because I play it so much.