The Young Dubliners - Absolutely (CD)

Irish roots grown into L.A. rock

By redtunictroll  Jul 20, 2002

The Young Dubliners have been kicking around Los Angeles since the mid-90s. Their music never leans as heavily on its Irish roots as, say Black 47 or The Pogues, but underneath the mainstream electric rock there’s more than a hint of the Emerald Isl...e. In particular, the stadium-sized electric guitar, bass and drums are often accompanied by fiddle, acoustic guitar, and the occasional tin whistle, and the melodies and rhythms sport a great deal more variety than your garden variety rock band.With Paul O’Toole apparently having left the band (and multi-instrumentalist Chris Waltz having returned), the vocals fall entirely to Keith Roberts. His singing sports a depth one won’t find in the average MOR rock band, with a strength that’s tempered by meloncholy, providing a stage from which to sing boldly without seeming overblown. The result is a true mix of their Dublin roots and Los Angeles home - passionate, and committed, but with a sound that’s more of the metropolis than the hometown.Their originals speak to inspirational themes of freedom and redemption, finding your own path and breaking free of the shackles of one’s history. The instrumental, "Unreel," does exactly that, with a manic edge, and "Brown Dog" kicks the energy up towards Pogues territory. The closing cover of "Ooh La La" is a welcome revival of the Faces early-70s hit and a perfect cap to the album’s sentiment.3-1/2 stars, if Yahoo allowed fractional ratings. Read more Less