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Play

Great Big Sea - Play Audio CD

A fair review of the Great Big Sea "Play" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Great Big Sea reviews here, or go back to the Great Big Sea tabs.

Band: Great Big Sea
Title: Play
Rating:

Release Date: 1997-10-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Ordinary Day 2: When I'm Up (I Can't Get Down) 3: Night Part Murphy Died 4: How Did We Get Form Saying I Love You... 5: Donkey Riding 6: Haven't Seen You in a Long Time 7: It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) 8: General Taylor 9: Seagulls 10: Recruiting Sargeant 11: Greenspond 12: My Apology 13: Jakey's Gin 14: Something I Should Know 15: Jolly Roving Tar 16: Rigadoon

Give it a listen? Aye me son!
Americans poke fun at Canada, calling the country "America's kid brother" and "the 51st State," but who is it the Canadians kick around? Well, that would be the proud inhabitants of the province of Newfoundland. There's a definite pecking order on both sides of the 49th Parallel in North America. This easternmost province is a geological chunk of Europe connected to North America; the youngest Canadian province which boasts the oldest continuously-functioning city on the continent (St. John's); a place with a time zone offset by half an hour from the rest of Canada. Newfoundland is far enough away from the mainland, both geographically and culturally, that its citizens have become prime targets in the humor wars. "Newfies" have long had to deal with widespread jokes deriding their accents, their lack of sophistication, their intelligence--and to their credit, they mostly do so gracefully. Even so, the widespread belief is that Newfoundland produces only moose meat, canned seal and fish.

Well, I can tell you there's one very worthwhile thing Newfoundland exports, and that's music. The province has given the world such stellar acts as the Celtic Connection, the Irish Descendants and the Ennis Sisters. And of course, there is Great Big Sea--about the most popular band in Newfoundland, topping the charts in Canada and making a respectable name for itself south of the border as well. The secret of their success isn't too hard to decipher: a unique sound inspired by Celtic folk and New World sea shanties, tweaked with modern rock sensibilities. Play, the band's third album, was released in 1997. It's about an equal mix of traditional tunes and original compositions, with one pop cover ("End of the World") done up in unique GBS style.

I'm enough of a folk geek that if I read the liner notes and see instruments like harmonica, bones, button accordion, tin whistle, mandola, concertina, bouzouki and bodhran in addition to the expected bass, violin and acoustic guitar, I start to salivate. GBS' liner notes had me in a Pavlovian frenzy before I played the first note. Better yet, the sound does not disappoint. These aren't your father's lilting Irish tunes--these are passionate a cappella dirges, lusty drinking songs, and shanties performed in a masculine musical roar. And they're utterly catchy. I defy anyone to listen to these songs in the car and not join in on the second chorus.

The opening track, "Ordinary Day," starts out with an SOS call and surges into a strong pop-rock anthem. With its optimistic lyrics and shanty-inspired chorus of "way-hey-hey it's just an ordinary day, and it's all your state of mind," this is one of the best original tunes on the album. Other standouts include "The Night Pat Murphy Died," a fun tune about an irreverent Irish wake; "General Taylor," a hearty dirge mocking an American turncoat in the Mexican-American war; "Recruiting Sargeant" (sic), a song about the true cost of war; and "Jolly Roving Tar," a shanty bemoaning the treatment of Jack Tars everywhere ("But when the money's gone, it's the same old song: Get up, Jack! John, sit down!")

The only complaint I have with this album is the slightly uneven quality of the songs. The GBS version of R. E. M. 's "End of the World" is fun, but works primarily as a novelty. While the original tunes have a tendency to grow on you after repeated listenings, they tend toward the more melancholy end of the emotional spectrum and lack some of the fire found in the traditional arrangements. Even so, they're better than 90% of the boy-band tripe you'll hear on the radio.

It's impossible to get across in words the sound of a recording, which is one reason why I don't often review music albums although I have a massive collection of CDs. About the best I can do is to compare Great Big Sea to other artists--another difficulty, since they aren't easily comparable. Maybe an aggressive, cheerfully drunk version of Silly Wizard? Loreena McKennitt's backup band with vocals by the Barenaked Ladies? Neither seems too accurate. Perhaps it's best just to listen for yourself.

Unlike purchasing canned seal meat, you won't be sorry later.

(Originally published in altered form on the author's website, piratereview. com).

Two! Four! Out the door!!
This was my first taste of GBS and at first listen it was WOW! This was the most interesting, enjoyable and fun recording released in 1997! They do a great job with Oysterband's "When I'm Up" and the tradtionals are exquisite! Take a listen to the glorious a cappella harmonies on "General Taylor"! There's the fun, hearty "The Night Pat Murphy Died" as well! It would be surprising if they didn't have fun making this album!.

WOW
I've had it since it came out. I love this CD. It's GREAT!.

"Play" this!
They're a band from Newfoundland who blend the traditional instruments and drinking songs with incredibly catchy music. I can't give kudos enough to Great Big Sea, which is probably the best blend of contemporary and traditional music out there.

Their music tends to vary a lot, much like the similar band "Rawlins Cross," but they seem to take themselves a lot less seriously. There are sad songs such as "How Did We Get from Saying I Love You. . . " and "My Apology," which seem to fit "Sea" less well than their bouncier tunes. One of those is the hilariously irreverant "Night Pat Murphy Died," about a bunch of guys who honor their dead friend by getting sozzled, and which contains the lyrics ". . . we went up to the graveyard/so holy and sublime/found out when we got there/we'd left the corpse behind!" They do a cover of REM's "End of the World" which was so good that I originally thought it was their own song; also there are the delightfully danceable "Rigadoon," "Ordinary Day," or "Jolly Roving Tar. " A few aren't as danceable, but still very catchy, like the mostly musicless "General Taylor" or the rhythmic "Donkey Riding. "

This Celtic-rock band is probably one of the best out there; you can almost imagine these guys dancing and singing as you listen. Check out this and other albums by Great Big Sea, and don't feel ashamed to sing along. I do it whenever I listen.

Way...Hey...And Away We Go!!!
Their music is fun and infectious and beyond any sort of label. This is about as perfect a CD as you can ask for from arguably the greatest band on Earth. It will make you sing at the top of your lungs and dance until you fall down. I have never heard anything like these guys before. Every time I play this at my house with visitors present, they want to know who the band is and where they can get a copy of the music. It is THAT good.
The reason I recommend this CD over "Rant and Roar" which was their first U. S. release that contains many of the same songs (and is a bit cheaper) is because the songs that didn't make it on the former album are every bit a good as the ones that did. If you only have "Rant" and have enjoyed killer tunes like "Ordinary Day," "The Night Pat Murphy Died," and a cover of R. E. M. 's "End of the World," you are seriously missing gems like "Donkey Riding" and "Jolly Roaving Tar. " There are ten tracks on this CD that didn't make it to the U. S. in their original form (there are a few on the live CD "Road Rage" which is also spectacular). Trust me, you must own "Play. "
I cannot praise these guys enough. I wish they got the full recognition they deserved over other bands that are twice as popular and half as good. If you like rock, folk, international, traditional Irish music or anything in between, you will NOT be disappointed by this CD. You have never heard anything like these guys before. Honest!.

You can see a complete list of all Great Big Sea discography, or go back to the Great Big Sea tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.