Posts by reudaly:
[Spotlight Post] The Rogues – Hellbound Sleigh
This was originally posted on Celtic Music Magazine.
When The Rogues’ Hellbound Sleigh came up for review I jumped at it – even though I’m generally a stickler for not listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. This, I thought would be a fun addition my Christmas music collection. I figured it would be weirdly irreverent with the title. I was surprised.
Apart from the title track, Hellbound Sleigh is mostly a lovely and lively collection of familiar Christmas and Holiday songs – some stand alone, others as part of medleys. Most are instrumental with pipes and bagpipes, violins and drums – along with other instruments that do give these time-honored classics unique elements. For the traditional Celts, and because there aren’t that many New Year’s songs, The Rogues appeal to all with “Ros’ Hogmanayâ€.
I have friends who are bellydancers. I can totally see this album as the base of a holiday-themed dance routine for them. There’s a tribal sense to the instrumentals that make you want to move to the rhythm. That’s not so hard to imagine since there are tracks like “March, Pat-a-Pan and Reel” and “Christmas Eve Reel/The Maple Leaf/Joy to the World” medley.
There are amazing – and different – combinations of songs on this album, too. I wouldn’t ever have considered melding “Jingle Bells” with “Good King Wenceslas”, but this works. It really works. To the point that I’m really looking forward to having this in my Christmas playlist just for the fact that it’s different and very intricate and cool. My church has a symphonic violin player – I’m very tempted to make him listen to “O Holy Night/Ave Maria” because it’s beautifully performed and haunting at the same time. The skill and musicianship is intricate and skilled.
If you’re like me and buy a new Christmas album each year, this is the one to get this year.
Artist: Band Website
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[Writing Post] Oops.
I’m so sorry. I missed the Wednesday Writer Post. I WISH I could say that I was working on the story I need to turn in this weekend. But alas, we were Christmas Shopping. This is the big/busy week prepping for holidays (and there’s still day job stuff going on). I am about to input […]
[Pen/Pencil Review] Noodler’s Piston-Fill Liquid Ink Rollerball
I still have a couple of Dallas Pen Show pens to review. This week’s a liquid ink rollerball from Noodler’s that I picked up at the Dallas Pen Show. I want to say they were giving them away, but I may have bought it because I love the one from J. Herbin so much. This […]
[Writer Post] Professionalism Not Just for Breakfast Anymore
Once more into the breach of Professionalism, really, folks, it’s not just for breakfast anymore. This was a new thing to me and was just… RUDE. I did a very, very small show this past weekend in East Texas. The upshot was I did meet some new folks and was able to spend a little […]
[Pen/Pencil Review] Speech & Thought Bubble Sticky Notes
I have awesome friends. They find me fun and unusual pens and other lovely things. These sets of sticky notes came from my friend, Meredith, and I wish I had more opportunities to use them – though when I get my novel edits, I think I’ll have ample opportunities. These sticky notes came in two […]
[Spotlight Post] Judy Crider – In Memoriam
I’m going to round out this Thanksgiving Week with a sad note. As lovely as Thanksgiving was – we celebrated with family at our house (as has been the case since Jimmy and I were married) – it did end with some bad news – the passing of a friend. I’d like to tell you […]
[Pen/Pencil Review] Blue Journal Pen – 1.0mm Ballpoint
I really need to learn to do these the night before. Monday’s are getting away from me. This is a pen I picked up on my last binge at Office Depot. I kinda forgot about it – until today when I was about to put it away, when I remembered… hey, Monday. This is simply […]