Brian Kennedy / Bap Kennedy Album Reviews

There is something confusing and deeply unsatisfying about Brian Kennedy’s new album. The voice as we all know is that of an angel there are great songs here with fantastically talented co writers like Chris Difford, Calum MacColl and Pat Gribben. The songs are catchy and the lyrics are far from throwaway pop. But. But. But. He seems to be intent on heading towards a Daniel O’Donnell audience of knicker throwing women. Songs like Different God with Boo Hewerdine joining the line up on song writing credits it’s as good as the album gets and Playing With My Heart is imbedded in your brain on impact. But. But. But you wish the whole album would take off their glad rags and velvet jackets and too slick hairdos and slip into their worn torn and faded flares. Be themselves and relax rather than that synthetic programming that makes it look like a pious plastic artificial Sunday façade. I’ve heard Playing With My Heart with just acoustic guitar and it was a little more vulnerable and whole lot more brilliant. This is a long way from The Great War Of Words even though Captured reappears here. Still this will sell more copies. I like it. But. But. But. I feel that I could have loved it.

Brian’s brother Bap has his jeans so torn that they are hardly worth wearing. Leaving the would be big stadium anthems of Energy Orchard far behind him Kennedy teams up with Steve Earle and a cast of Nashville legends to find the perfect rags for his country/folk like lyrical couplets. Maybe the songs are not as strong as good looking brother’s and maybe you hear a the same rhythmic lines a little too often but there’s a validity and an authenticity that allows grace to be lavished. Grabbing the attention of this reviewer are the songs of home. The Ghosts of Belfast and The Shankill And The Falls both benefit from Nanci Griffiths on backing vocals and do capture perfectly the man’s hometown problems. He’s always dealt with Belfast in a touchingly honest, hopeful and very fair minded way. A duet with Earle on a raucous, shambles of a hidden track, Dirty Old Town perfectly expresses the differences between the brothers. One will make the shop tils ring the other reverberates with credibility.

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