Sons of Somerled

Steve McDonald - Sons of Somerled

Sons of Somerled
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Category: Music CD
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CD Details

Artist: Steve McDonald
Performer: Steve McDonald
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown), Stereo
Format: Enhanced
CD Release Date: 1996-02-01
Music Label: Etherean Music
Soundtracks:
  1. Intro
  2. Sons of Somerled
  3. Live On My Warrior Son
  4. All You Can Know
  5. Loch Lomond
  6. Soldier's Lament
  7. Come to the Isle of Skye
  8. Scotland the Brave
  9. Celtic Segue
  10. Celtic Warrior
  11. I Will Return
  12. Wild Mountain Thyme
  13. Per Mare, Per Terras
  14. Lordship of the Isles
  15. Journey of the Warrior Soul

Music reviews of Sons of Somerled

Music Review: A dissenting voice crying out from the wilderness
Rating: 4 Stars

THE SONS OF SOMERLED pays tribute to the Clan MacDonald and that part of Scotland, the Hebrides and the western seaboard, over which they once exercised lordship. Other reviews on this website, including that by one of my Favorite People, are rhapsodic in their praise of this CD, and it was on that basis that I purchased it. Perhaps it's because my expectations were so lofty that I'm so disgruntled. Recognizing that disillusionment is skewing my review, I'm giving the disk 4 stars instead of the 3 that was my initial overreaction.

The tracks on SONS, in my opinion, describe a normal distribution curve. A couple are excellent, and a couple quite disappointing. Most are simply good. And this comes from one that has visited Scotland several times, and is also favorably disposed to the Celtic genre of music.

The very best selection on SONS is "Loch Lomond". This rendition of that "standard" is so good that it sent chills up my spine. Another excellent track, featuring a wonderful use of drums, is the title selection, "Sons of Somerled". Actually, the use of drums in several tracks is one of the CD's best features. Would that the use of bagpipes had been as notable. I love pipe music, and its relative absence was a source of keen displeasure. I mean, this is Scotland we're talking about here, not Iowa.

Now, regarding "Scotland the Brave". The first half of this version sounded like something one might hear in a church or an elevator. Puhleeze! It wasn't until the drums and pipes kicked in for the second half that I thought the piece was being done justice. As a matter of fact, this was the best combination of those two instruments on the entire disk.

"Come to the Isle of Skye"" was of particular annoyance. Skye is one of my most favorite places in Britain, and this lackluster, timid song doesn't begin to capture its misty, wild, stark beauty. It made my lips curl in scorn.

I've only mentioned four of the disk's tracks. The remainder were more or less satisfactory. "Wild Mountain Thyme", another "standard", was pleasantly done, as was "Live On My Warrior Son".

I'm always suspicious when a vocal artist needs the support of a particularly loud or elaborate orchestration, or a bunch of background vocalists whose contribution is prominent. This indicates, to me, that the lead artist can't cut it alone. A Celtic artist that can, and magnificently, is Loreena McKennitt. The lead artist on SONS, Steve McDonald, has yet to convincingly demonstrate to me the same level of talent. As I listen to the CD several more times, perhaps he and it will grow on me. However, it will never achieve 5-star status.

More Sons of Somerled free music reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Description of Sons of Somerled

Album of the Year Winner! ... "The musical equivalent to Braveheart" (Billboard Magazine) Steve McDonald's celtic contemporary music soars with cinematic tales of Scottish history. Enhanced CD includes musical video. No Clan exercised such a powerful influence in early Highland history as the Macdonalds. Somerled emerged early in the 12th Century as a leader to expel the Vikings from Southwest Scotland. His marriage to a Norse princess made him a formidable adversary to the Scottish king. Somerled's grandson, Donald, became the founder of "Clan Donald" - literally the "children of Donald" - giving his descendants and followers the name Macdonald or "son of Donald".
Sons of Somerled features the sonic treat of densely layered synthetic instrumentation shot through with heavy-duty vocal emoting, recalling both fellow Scotsman Dougie MacClean and the ballads of English pop star Phil Collins. Romantic in its notions of nationalism, war, and history, Sons of Somerled recalls man's love affair with the sea, the bluster and pride of the likes of Braveheart, and the all-consuming quest for the eternal soul mate. Such heady aspirations coupled with dreamy musical accompaniment speak to an audience hungry for the bittersweet passion of life writ by the unseen hand of fate. --Paige La Grone

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