Fiddle-dee-dee.Pride * Ashley MacIsaac * Koch Records Koch Records, the primary subsidiary of Koch Entertainment LP, is an independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe and in Asia under the name Koch Universal. From Celtic fiddling to Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is a three-times Academy Award-nominated American composer. He is considered one of the most influential composers of the late-20th century[1][2][3][4][5] to trippy dance, chameleonlike musician Ashley MacIsaac, at just 31, has shaken up one genre after another in the nearly 15 years since his debut album was released. On 2003's tasty (and sadly overlooked) Ashley MacIsaac he toyed with garage rock, an idea he expands here. For the first time, MacIsaac puts down the fiddle in order to spotlight his pleasingly ragged vocals and songwriting. CD photos feature a usually shiftless shift·less adj. 1. a. Lacking ambition or purpose; lazy: a shiftless student. b. Characterized by a lack of ambition or energy: studied in a shiftless way. MacIsaac all glowery and bad-boy, and he offers music to match. Songs range from raw thrashes to straight-ahead rock with a short detour to roots-tinged folk rock Folk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and Canada around the mid-1960s. , raucously mixing in a little sex, a few drugs, a touch of politics, and rock and roll. Think Nick Cave or even early Tom Robinson This article is about the musician. For the fictional character, see To Kill a Mockingbird.
"Bitch" and "Just Because" find MacIsaac, via distorted vocals layered over driving guitars, grappling with relationships gone awry. His sexuality is on display, with tracks aimed at men ("Love 'Em" and "A Nan Like You") and women ("Hey Alright"). His scratchy delivery on "A Man Like You" only makes the song more appealing. MacIsaac ends the set with an energetic rave-up, "Sick of Rock'n' Roll," that apes and name-checks Patti Smith. New fans won't believe he's a hard-core Canadian folk fiddler. Longtime fans may miss the reels, but in exchange MacIsaac eagerly leads them in another damn interesting dance.--Mark Davis |
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