Musical Disappointment (new Seadogs CD)

[professionalhenchman]

So, I picked up a copy of the new Seadogs CD while I was at Dickens today. I really enjoy their first CD, and their stage shows, so I expected well of this disc. Listening to it on the way home, I was unfortunately disappointed. The music just seemed to lack energy, and it seemed to us listening on the trip home that someone had made a creative decision to put together a CD of slow, sad songs. Now, I don't inherently mind this, but it's not what I'd expect from either the Seadogs or a disc of pirate music. It's particularly egregious since several of the songs sound to me like they were forced into a much slower tempo than they really should have had. Several of the songs that I have heard them perform on stage sounded much flatter and lower energy than when I've heard them in person. I was particularly disappointed with "Dark Lady", mostly because I've really enjoyed hearing it at faires this season with laviolinista's fiddle strongly weaving throughout the song, but on the CD, I could only catch two or three brief places where I thought I heard a fiddle. She was listed on the credits as contributing, so I'm puzzled. laviolinista, can you shed any light on this, or should I chat with you privately about it?

Comments

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Hmm, on further listening, I'm less disappointed with Dark Lady - I can hear the fiddle better towards the end without the car noise, but it's still not nearly as good as I've been hearing from them live - I think I've gotten spoiled. :)

[whalejudge.livejournal.com]

Yes, Kay has spoiled you...

I was surprised by all the slow songs, too. But there are several songs I like, and I wasn't expecting to like everything. In fact, I really like 1 and 20. I was more disappointed in the chatter between several songs.

[groblek.livejournal.com]

I actually enjoyed the chatter between songs, though I'm very glad they made those separate tracks for ease of skipping - I'm not always going to be in the mood for listening to silly intros, something I've found with other groups as well. I do actually enjoy some of the songs as well, and I suspect that others will grow on me, it's just that the overall tone of the CD left me wishing I'd just taped one of their performances instead. Hmm, I bet I could make a couple of CDs I'd have a lot of fun listening to by taking the tracks from both CDs and making a random mix of the two.... I may have to try that.

[whalejudge.livejournal.com]

Um, the Sea Dogs released 3 CDs--Maiden Voyage, Paddy West, and this one.

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Well, shows how little I know then - I'll have to find a copy of Maiden Voyage sometime.

[whalejudge.livejournal.com]

Unless they rerelease, that might be hard. It was a few years ago at Stafford.

[kelsied.livejournal.com]

Presently being "repressed" according to their website.

... Am I the only one who thinks that's a gigglishly hysterical way of putting that?

light to shed :)

[laviolinista.livejournal.com]

When I was invited to join the group in May, I had not written parts yet. CD largely recorded before I joined. They just added me at the end.

Thank you :)

[laviolinista.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like the strong fiddle line weaving through Dark Lady. It's one of my favorites. It's certainly not something I'd sit down and write. It emerged fully formed of its own volition from the ship, no doubt. I'd be happy to teach it to you or write it out since it solidified in October and is fully done creating itself (for the most part).

Re: light to shed :)

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Ahh, that explains it quite well - thanks. The song as recorded on the CD is pretty good, just not as good as what I've heard with your fiddle line added. I think I'll take you up on that offer to teach me the fiddle line sometime.