The Real McKenzies

Oot & Aboot (Honest Don’s)
by Ewan Wadharmi

I was looking forward to this, as I’m as Scottish as Irish. Sadly, it comes across as the Fabulous Thunderbirds of Celtic punk. Paul McKenzie’s glib vocals are out of place amidst the semi-rocking, semi-trad music. There are some redeeming lyrical moments in “Cross the Ocean” regarding buccaneers, but not much you can’t pick up from Pirates of the Caribbean. The choice to rock traditionals like “Ye Banks and Braes” is one made while plukey-faced. “Heather Bells” fares somewhat better, but once the rocking commences, someone should have come to their senses.

The Real McKenzies are best at traditional socio-political punk numbers like “Lest We Forget,” and the title track, which sound like fellow Vancouver residents D.O.A. But the traditional bagpipe and tabla is nice, so mebee they need to mix less? If you’ve got to have it blended, opt for Filthy Thieving Bastards, Dropkicks, or Flogging Molly. I’d even prefer Great Big Sea, and they’re sort of the Newfoundland kids on the block.
(PO Box 193690 San Francisco, CA 94119)