One of the members of the New York band "Hair of the Dog,"
Michael DeAngelis has just branched out and released his first solo
effort. It is an amalgam of celtic and folk covering a myriad of
subjects: emigration, family, fleeing from demons, chasing perceived
rainbows--all filtered through the prism of relationships.
DeAngelis made one very grand decision--to include Richard
Thompson's sublime "From Galway To Graceland." A quiet song but one
that succintly captures the descent into madness and obsession, "FGTG"
easily ranks as one of Thompson's best.
DeAngelis' own best offerings are "Almost Home" and "Boundaries."
With emotion-laden fiddle backing, "Almost Home" is a touching
tale of return and self-realization. The lead figure in the song comes
to accept that he needs to become a better person before he'll be up to
the task at binding a relationship.
Applicable to Ireland but certainly elsewhere too,
"Boundaries," details the price of war, subjugation and resistance.
DeAngelis opens with:
"O'r the green mountains and o'r the green valleys
I've walked through this country and felt me an age
A people so strong they resist for so long
The boundaries that hold them..."
Pub comraderie is depicted in "Bartender Billy." Springing from a conversation in a pub, in "Rich Man's Family," DeAngeles expresses the value of family.
"Donegal" has an Irish emigrant pining to return. DeAngelis sings:
"...Sometimes he lies there dreamin' in the night
He'll get a job of extra work, save the money for the flight
Ah, but lonely dreams in darkness disappear before the dawn
Familiar faces fade away, all the dreams are gone"
"Baltimore" has a beau stranded in Killarney, separated from
his love back in Baltimore. Now if only she was in Baltimore, County
Cork.
The brokenhearted lead in "Lost In Cork" finds love anew fueling a fresh start
This is generally a quiet contemplative release. DeAngelis'
voice is pleasant and he does an excellent job of twining the lyrics
with excellent instrumental backing.
Track List
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