Artist:	THE YOUNG DUBLINERS
Title:	"ALIVE, ALIVE 'O"
Label:	Cargo Music
Reviewed By:	G. Horstman
Rating:

"The Young Dubliners" (Keith Roberts - Vocals/acoustic guitar, Randy Wolford - electric guitar, Jon Mattox - drums, Brendan Holmes - bass, Jeff Dellisanti - sax/organ/flute, Mak Epting - violin/mandolin) are indeed quite a band. A reputation for exciting live shows has developed a most dedicated and loyal fan base (who lovingly refer to them as "The Dubs"). That live energy has finally been put on disc with their new release "Alive, Alive 'O." Only eight tracks long (but what tracks they are!), their music is a lively mix of rock melodies and stirring lyrics, blended with a dash of traditional Celtic/Irish rhythms. People initially come to our concerts because they like our records," explains singer/songwriter Keith Roberts, "but our fans say we are so much better live, so when we joined up with Cargo Records, we decided to give them something they've been asking for - a live album." Recorded by producer/engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Bush, Breeders, Page/Plant), and mixed at various locations throughout the world (including a work-over at the Beatles famed Abbey Road studios), the finished product truly captures the spirit of "The Young Dubliners" at their best. "The biggest influence on me was crossing the Atlantic Ocean," Keith Roberts explains. "I wasnt' really into Irish music when I lived in Ireland. I always played in rock bands. When I came to America, I hung out at Irish pubs, more for nostalgic reasons than anything else. The jukebox was filled with the music of U2, The Chieftains, the Waterboys and The Pogues. Listening to those, I realized that Celtic music and rock music could sound powerful together." In its early days, different musicians came and went from the band, jamming on a regular basis. Formed by Roberts and fellow singer/songwriter/Irishman Paul O'Toole, they "added a few Americans to the mix" and became "The Young Dubliners." The band played in the L.A. area until Roberts bought a club in Santa Monica and made it their home base. The bet paid off and they attracted a passionate following. Most of our music is rock," Roberts notes, "but the instrumentation we've chosen always injects our music with a Celtic feel. When we started, we had no idea how the music would sound, but eventually it developed into what it is today - rock with a Celtic edge." Roberts and Woolford do the songwriting, then bring it to the band for everyone to work on it. "Whatever comes out at the other end is a song that always feels like The Young Dubliners." Probably the only thing wrong with "Alive, Alive 'O" is that it's too short. With the breakneck speed that some of the songs are recorded at, and with only eight tracks, the time flys by far to fast. In actual minutes and seconds it's longer than several other CDs out right now, but it sure doesn't seem that way. The album opens with a super song called "One And Only," about a child's sexual abuse. The lyrics practically tear your heart out, while the musical background seems to carry the story along. This band has a tendancy to write upbeat music with dark themes, and this song is no exception. However, it's about time some of the music coming out is about real subjects and not fantasies. I don't think a song like this one has struck me in this way since "Aerosmith's" "Janie's Got A Gun." 'Nuf said. "Rising/Change The World" starts off with a lively instrumental Irish jig type of tune, enhanced by electric guitar accents, then moves into an up tempo vocal number with lots of instrumentals in between verses and a more rock feel to it. The next song "Confusion" starts out with a bass echo and meloncholy melody line that sounds mostly like a rock ballad with just a hint of a Celtic edge added. This relationship song has some pretty serious lyrics and a bit of a hopeless feeling to it that is echoed in the music. It's also one of the best songs on the album. A prolonged drum solo opens "What Do You Want From Me?," a song that also has more of that Irish feel to it. It has great harmonies and humming that leads into the chorus line "What Do You Want From Me?" This is another pretty fast song, with a rock drum beat, but the melody line carrying the Irish. A bridge in the middle slows way down, then the violin brings the tempo back up again in a great solo leading into the vocals again. This is kind of unrequited love song, but more on a questioning note. "Man Upstairs" also has that Irish feel from the violin. A bit slower than the previous couple of songs, this one talks about thinking things through before acting, asks "Who are all these crazy people/ Tell me they're not real/ Feel like I'm from somewhere else but here/ Forgive me when I'm lonely/ Forget me when I fall. . ." Kind of a thinking person's song. A cover of The Waterboys' "Fisherman's Blues" is up next. "We've been playing that song since we started," the singer acknowledges, "but we never planned to record it until now." Be glad they did. It's a great up-beat song with a lot more "Irish" on it, but definitely jazzed up, rocked up and set with a 90's spin. "Follow Me Up To Carlow" is a traditional Irish folk song written by O' Toole. This is pretty typical. A fast, upbeat sound while relating a story of war. The lyrics are pretty heavy duty, as war lyrics usually are, but sung to the bouncy Irish beat and melody. A really super instrumental bridge that shows the solo talents of all the musicians graces the middle of the song before returning to the tale of war and woe. This is THE most Irish/Celtic sounding song on the album. The final song on the album, "Blink," is the only studio recording on this album, and is also the band's newly released single. I could swear I've heard this song before and that it's a cover, but from the material I have on the band it's an original. Still, it's similar to something you've heard before and it catches you up right from the first note. Once the chorus comes through you just KNOW you've heard it before. "In the blink of an eye/ Has exploded all light(?)/ And I never even got to tell you good bye/ Good bye/ Good Bye/ Good Bye." Actually in a way it reminds me of early Beatles with a Celtic twist. Anyhow, it's a great song to wind up the album. No matter what kind of music you like, you'll probably enjoy this album from "The Young Dubliners." It has enough of a rock and roll sound to please rock and alternative fans, the touch of Irish/Celtic influence in every song to please those fans and hear the music in a bit different way, and is an all around well put together CD - especially for a "Live" album. Yes, there is crowd noise between songs but nothing to overrun and mar the actual songs themselves. Check this one out for sure! (See the LIVE CONCERT review of "The Young Dubliners" in the CONCERT section of this issue.)

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