| CD REVIEW |
 |
| TO RETURN TO THE CD REVIEW INDEX PAGE, |
| HOME, BOYS! - THE SHARECROPPERS (2005) |
| There�s a saying that goes: �When in Rome, do as the Romans do.� For me, as a person �from away�, The Sharecroppers� Home, Boy! CD serves as an excellent and inviting representation of the diverse cultures within Newfoundland and Labrador. Over the course of the last decade and more, these musicians (Mike Madigan, Guy Romaine and Ed Humber) have established themselves as genuine cultural ambassadors within this province�s tourist industry, particularly in the Pasadena and Corner Brook areas. They are often booked to entertain on cruise ships docking in the harbour for a spell. Although Newfoundland�s current musical profile is no longer restricted to the traditional variety that stems from Irish and English origins, its citizens have proudly nourished these roots as part of their heritage. Speaking of roots and stems, check out the various interesting and educational links on The Sharecroppers� web site (www.thesharecroppers.net), including �The Heritage Tree�. Like their previous successful releases - Natural and This New Found Lande � Home, Boys! includes both �new classic� original compositions and covers of traditional Celtic songs. The great sing-along song, �Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor�, was the only one I knew from before. The delightful �Traditional Song� is actually an original cleverly incorporating the names of other traditional and well-known songs, e.g. �I�se The B�y�, the aforementioned �Jack Was Every Inch A Sailor�, �Squid-Jiggin� Ground�, and even The Sharecroppers� own classic, �One Room School�. The CD opener, �Crowd From Up The Hill�, one of the livelier tracks, is a song about spending time with friends and those intriguing musical �kitchen parties� that I�ve not yet had the pleasure to experience. In addition to songs dedicated to homefolk � the fishermen, sailors, millers, soldiers, musicians and, yes, the drinkers and party animals, there is a bonus track entitled �Maggie Madigan - Titanic Survivor�. The lyrical cadence flows a bit awkwardly in parts, but the song itself and, indeed, Mike's vocals reminded me of the storytelling yarns of folk legend Burl Ives. The song is also a nod to Karen Thomas, whose three-year search to determine the subsequent fate of Margaret �Maggie� Madigan brought her in contact with Mike (who, so far as he knows, is unrelated to Margaret). �Fine Girl Ye Are� was composed in honour to the patient and faithful women who await the return of their seafaring mates. �Grenfell� is a song written in honour of Dr. Wilfred Grenfell, an English missionary who came to Newfoundland to �hook� the less fortunate into working for their survival. The Grenfell Mission spawned an industry of antique artifacts and the phrase, �When Your Stockings Run, Let Them Run to Labrador." The �ghostly� �Rosin the Bow� stands out with its �barbershop quartet� harmonies, even if there were only three singing. Guy Romaine, Ed Humber and Mike Madigan take turns on lead vocals throughout the CD, and these multi-instrumentalists are joined by guests Rick Wheeler (on bass and mandolin), who assisted in the mixing of this Sharecroppers-produced CD, Bill Green (on tin whistle) and Milton Crewe (on bodhran - a type of drum, pronounced �boran�). The sound quality of these softly vocalized folk ballads and, of course, requisite jigs and reels is impeccable, and there�s nothing too rowdy, making it a perfect gift for lulling your wee ones to sleep, cheering you up after a hard day�s work, or just wishing you and your whole family were all "back 'ome" together. |
 |
 |