Serenity Movie
Oh wow! I just saw Serenity at the Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow. It was amazing... and shocking. Everything you'd expect from Joss Whedon. Jewel Staite and Summer Glau were there alongside well over a hundred Browncoats watching the show out under the stars, surrounded by the set of the Alamo.
That movie was way more intense the Firefly TV series. I can't wait to see it again!
Oh! And the music was just as intense. Way powerful!
That movie was way more intense the Firefly TV series. I can't wait to see it again!
Oh! And the music was just as intense. Way powerful!
posted by Marc Gunn, Music Marketing | 9:52 AM
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"Irish Heartbeat" consists of 10 songs, eight of them traditional Irish melodies which are performed with such depth and vibrancy that it is easy to assume they are all brand new. Morrison was in playful vocal form, sowing musical wild oats with the opening "Star of the County Down" and the raucous reel "I'll Tell Me Ma." The Chieftains' main vocalist Kevin Conneff does a grand vocal duel with Morrison on "Ta Mo Chleamhnas Deanta (My Match It Is Made"), with Morrison taking the English lyrics while Conneff keeps the Irish lyrics in play.
Track four is playful, and she uses her voice almost as if it were an instrument itself. It is followed by Black is the Colour, which is a soft, dreamy tune which highlights Dinan's range and vocal skill. She shows that she can demonstrate her talent without beating you over the head with it. It whispers to you.
Most of the album is instrumental and it is all well-played. There are however, a couple of tracks that feature his smooth, mellow voice and some subtle harmonies. Track two, my favorite of the whole CD, Wild Mountain Thyme is one of these.
It's not an easy feat to pull off such a wide range of diverse sounds and influences while keeping a heavy Celtic flavor, but Avalon Rising is up to the job. The band scores points with 'old school' Irish music lovers with the pagan overtones their music, and makes the grade with fans of skilled guitar playing. Some will pick up this album out of sheer curiosity-how can a band manage hints of the Middle East, psychadelia and, on Musical Pesto Set, a hint of the Red Hot Chili Peppers while still uncompromisingly Celt? Avalon Rising is a group giving big headaches to music store employees who can’t quite find a category for this progressive/traditional band. 
Much of the rest of the music is just plain ol' good listening stuff. If you are feeling like some easy, peppy tunes, much of this album is geared that way. Fun, silly stories, typical Celtic fare, is aplenty here. Health to the Company, the CDs title track is a good tune, and The Minstrel Boy has some nice harmonies throughout.
The CD isn't the thumping, pulsing traditional fare. Nor is it the pining, yearning fiddle you may figure is ever-present. You'll find other musical influences here, a little folk, a touch of rock and a hint of bluegrass. Through it all, however, you'll hear Celtic, although perhaps a little more mellow than you might be used to. It is a nice change and not so relaxing that you'll be yawning, just a bit contemplative. You get the feeling that these guys (and gals!) aren't worried about fitting in anywhere, they just want to play and have a good time. The genuineness of that feeling shines through, and it you can hear it. A nice listen all the way around. 
Samhain throws in a great curve ball on the second track. Morrison's Set is a surprise, a beautiful Celtic reworking of The Doors classic People Are Strange. Excellent fiddle playing and flute work make this a treat. It would be easy to lose the musical plot on a cover of such a well-known song, but the original melancholy of the Doors version shines through here even as the reworked version gets a bit playful. The group does Jim Morrison and company justice, and without shamelessly imitating the original.
Cluan stick with what some call the all-natural sound; they don't try to spruce up the mix with electrified sounds, heavy echo or other studio tricks. The acoustic guitar, bouzouki, and two fiddles are expertly recorded; The High Road has a spontaneous quality difficult to capture on a studio album.
With a good mix of music, Cady's band is every bit as skilled as she is. You'll hear everything from hornpipe music to a waltz to a song called Going to Milwaukee which is a fun, easy listen. Don't miss the title track, Harp and Shamrock/Crock of Gold for a funky, unique musical arrangement that still somehow manages to have a traditional thread running through it.
Heather Dale has been compared to Loreena McKennitt and Sarah McLachlan, but her interest in Arthurian legends and Native American imagery gives the music an added dimension that's a joy to discover. The Road To Santiago has its roots set firmly in Gaeldom, but there are many influences at work including a taste of piano blues on Confession, and on Sedna, there's a hint of Australian aboriginal sounds that would fall flat in lesser hands. On this CD it works quite well.
The music on the CD spans all tempos, with selections arranged well to compliment each other. The range of sounds that both artists can elicit from their instruments shows their expertise and makes the music a pleasure to sit back and listen to. Don't miss the sweet sounds of track 5, Graveyard Fields or Hector the Hero, track 9 which has spoken lyrics in addition to the music; a nice listen.
