Red
Rock music has been hyphenated into increasingly narrower constituent pieces (folk-rock, punk-rock, ad nauseam) since the 1970s, which misses a crucial point--all the best rock has been a fusion of disparate elements. Simply labeling the Young Dubliners "Celtic rock," does them--and the listener--a disservice. In an irony suitable for the age, the Young Dubliners were formed in--where else?--Los Angeles by expatriate Irishman Keith Roberts and have built a sizable reputation on their energetic live shows. And though it kicks off with "Bodhran," a typically manic Irish reel,Reddisplays a musical sensibility that owes as much toDave Matthewsand theWallflowersas it does to theChieftains. The title track even features lyrics by band admirer and longtimeElton Johncollaborator Bernie Taupin. With mood and drama to burn, fused to an energetic, driving band sound,Redis an album as infectious as it is mature.--Jerry McCulley