Trouble in the Land

Artist: Black 47
Label: Shanachie
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 016351574121
EAN: 0016351574121
ASIN: B00003IE1R

Release Date: 2000-01-11

Trouble in the Land

Related Categories:

General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Irish Folk

| Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative

| Pop | Styles | Music

Rock

| Celtic | International | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Tracks:

Trouble In The Land
Those Saints
Delirious
Bobby Kennedy
Tramps Heartbreak
Bodhrans On The Brain
I Got Laid On James Joyce's Grave
Susan Falls Apart
Desperate
Fallin' Off The Edge Of America
Touched By Fire
Blood Is Thicker Than Water

Similar Items:

Fire of Freedom
Elvis Murphy's Green Suede Shoes
New York Town
Home of the Brave
Live in New York City

Amazon.com

After 10 years of frenetic pub gigs in Manhattan and a series of politically militant, genre-scrambling records, you might guess that Black 47 would have run out of anger and energy, or at least smoothed their ragged edges. Not hardly. Trouble in the Land is their most musically incendiary release since their first recorded rampage. Larry Kirwin still sings with a biting Celtic slur and the band still somersaults through an improbable fusion of ska and Irish folk music. But if Black 47 seems spent at all, it's oddly enough in its politics. "Bobby Kennedy" is a predictable lionization of the last family in the world in need of further mythologizing. The title cut sets out to lacerate racist militias but needs more punch than the truism "too many people got guns in the hands." Thankfully, the remaining songs are smarter. "Fallin Off the Edge of America" is a harrowing picture of junkie despair that recalls Warren Zevon's "Carmelita," while "I Got Laid on James Joyce's Grave" is a funky satire of romantic tourism worthy of Swift. Best of all is "Touched By Fire," in which Kerwin evokes the hopes of Irish revolutionaries of the 1920s with beautiful lines such as "The night has come, the stars are achin' / For you and me and all our naked dreams." <I>--Roy Kasten</I>

Customer Reviews:

Not afraid to mix fun with a serious side.......2006-06-22

Black 47 is an interesting band. When they are looking for a good time few bands can match them. "Delirious," "Desperate," "Bodhrans on the Brain," and "I Got Laid on James Joyce's Grave" are all fine examples of the band at its wildest; ska and Celtic rhythms meet in an unholy amalgamation that can't help but get your feet moving as a smile creeps across your face. But the band sets its sights a bit higher than just party music. Racism and American and Irish politics are all topics open for examination as well the deeper emotions that welcome a poet's touch. Occasionally heavy-handed ("Bobby Kennedy being a prime example of going a bit over the top)") but never boring, Black 47 is a band that deserves a wider audience.

Good Introduction.......2003-09-20

If you've been living under a rock for the last 10 years and have missed the critics raving about Black47, this is a good introduction. While not their best work (For that try their live albums On Fire or Live In New York City), it is definately a well done album that is accessible to the mainstream.

And if you _EVER_ get the chance to see them live....do so. They put on a really good show.

Where is the Emotion?.......2002-01-28

One reason I fell in love with Black47 a long time ago was the drive and emotion that was behind there music. Ive always liked the funky style songs, but the emotional based tear jerkers were the ones that always caught my attention most. This release is more ska, reggae then anything else. Im glad Larry, put out a solo album, those are the songs I yearn for from Black 47.

i think i know what's wrong here..........2001-12-10

the problem here is NOT that "trouble in the land" is a BAD album...i daresay black '47 is not CAPABLE of producing a bad album (despite the fact larry can't sing)...but rather, we all know they CAN do and HAVE done way better. and THAT's their own fault. this should've been black '47's first release. a few kick-(...) tracks like "those saints", "desperate", and my personal favourite, "bodhráns on the brain" would've been more than enough to hook people's attention, while the other, less-memorable selections would've still left them some room for improvement. instead, however, they made the mistake of making a name for themselves with "fire of freedom", a bloody masterpiece with not one bad song on it that nothing (well, nothing but a live performance) could even come close to bettering.
the trick to appreciating "trouble in the land" would be to try NOT to compare it to the boys' previous work. give it a chance and you'll realise not only is it NOT "fire of freedom", it's also pretty different from anything they've done before. and different isn't always a bad thing. and even still...those of you who can't be without your funky ceili WILL (try though you might to resist) become addicted to "bodhráns".
don't overlook this one just cos it isn't the boys' best. it's still very much worth the money.

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

Simple Complex ~ Jon Weber

Cow Cow Boogie ~ Various Artists

Live ~ Vic Vogel

All Star Jazz Sessions, Vol. 2 ~ Lionel Hampton

Jazz Farm ~ Scott Farr

Just for You ~ Jill Saward

Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha ~ The Makaha Sons

Afro-Cuban Roots: Cantos Y Toquesde Santo, Vol. 3 ~ Various Artists

Joao Pedro & Cristiano ~ Joao Pedro

300 Hits in Japan 1965-1984 V.10 ~ Various Artists