Year of the Dog
Originally a traditional folk-dance ensemble, Wolfstone have evolved into a Celtic-rock band along the lines of the Waterboys. By blending the ancient Scottish instruments of the fiddle and bagpipe with electric guitar, electric bass, and a full drum kit, Wolfstone have managed to add a new kick to an old tradition on their albumYear of the Dog.Silly Wizard's Phil Cunningham, who produced the album and added some accordion, helped Wolfstone retain the springy lilt of Celtic dance music even as they added more power to their punch. Unfortunately, the impact of this hybrid sound is at times blunted by the overreaching songwriting of singer Ivan Drever and fiddler Dave Chisholm, who too often adopt the unfocused bombast of such prog-rock bands as Yes and Jethro Tull. On Drever's rousing political anthem, "The Brave Foot Soldiers," however, and on Cunningham's lively instrumental medley, "The Double Rise," Wolfstone display the potential to cross over from folk to pop--and back again.--Geoffrey Himes