Review - Patrick’s Head - Arse Biscuits!
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Artist: Patrick’s Head
CD: Arse Biscuits!
Bonnie proclamates Although we never really discussed it, Mike and me generally keep Celtophilia rated PG, and suitable for most audiences. I might have a hard time with that on this post. Why, you ask? In large part because of John Byrne, the lead singer of Patrick’s Head. His voice is freaking orgastastically delicious. I would never lead you on, this man’s voice is sexy. Of course this much awesome doesn’t happen in a vacuum, vocalist and guitarist Patrick Mansfield is also downright toothsome.* Seriously, I had to restrain myself from licking my speakers. Ahem.
The album is called Arse Biscuits and it’s sublime. It includes many traditional and well known songs, and not as many comedy pieces as you might expect from the title. (Although there are a couple.)
The first track is Back Home in Derry, an Irish Rebel song written by Bobby Sands. If I listed all of the songs on this c.d. that are now my favorite versions of cherished tunes, you’d be sick of hearing about it, but this is one of them.
Green Fields of France is poignant and fierce all at once, and I don’t think very many people will slight you if you suffer a small allergy attack and sniffle and blink throughout the entire thing. I’m secure in my femininity so I tell you frankly that I wept salty tears, brought on by both the subject matter of the lyrics and the intensity of the delivery.
Streams of Whiskey is a welcome mood lifter after Green Fields of France, although it’s suggested cure for tears (getting into a bar and drinking 15 pints) might not be terribly practical if say, you’re partaking of this album at work.
Patrick Mansfield’s original tune, Kilts Up, Knickers Down is fetching, though not as bawdy as you might suspect.
On the whole I thought this c.d. was phenomenal. The guitar playing and drumming is impressive, and oh yeah, didn’t I mention, the vocals are wicked outstanding. I recommend Arse Biscuits to everyone that enjoys Celtic music, and I imagine that even people that aren’t huge fans of the genre would enjoy listening to this anyway, as it just sounds bloody good.
*I have to say that I have a huge weakness for voices that sound lived in, a la Janis Joplin. A little scratchiness in the tone evocative of late nights drinking and smoking just slays me for some reason.
Mike declarifies: Imagine the coolest folk CD you know. It’s got those awesome melodies. It’s got that guy (or gal) with the amazing voice. It’s got those rockin’ arrangements with only one or two instruments and a cool mix between clean sound and a little roughness around the edges. It’s perfect in all ways. It’s almost as good as the unlikely named Arse Biscuits!, by Patrick’s Head.
Truly gang, this is the good stuff. I haven’t the faintest idea how they settled on the name of the CD, but it
really gives off a very different impression than what the CD provides. This is folk music, all the way through, and at its very best. Honestly, I’m really glad that singer John Byrne’s move to England as a professional footballer didn’t work out. It would have been an unfortunate loss to music. Same for guitarist Patrick Mansfield’s writing career. Sorry guys, but this is your calling.
Arse Biscuits! (God, I get a sick pleasure out of writing that) starts off with an awesome performance of the Bobby Sands classic Back Home In Derry. I’ve heard the song before, but this one is so good it inspired me to go learn to play it. From there, the CD goes on an acoustic romp through 13 more traditional and modern folk songs, each one as amazing as the one before.
There’s no way to place a song on Arse Biscuits! as a favorite, so I’ll say that Back Home In Derry, Raglan Road, Green Fields of France, Ride On, and The Town I Love So Well are slightly more amazing than the others. Oh, and of course I would be remiss if I didn’t mention The Sick Note. I’ve heard this song done by plenty of different performers, and this one is as good as any I’ve ever heard. If those songs aren’t enough reason for you to go get the CD, I don’t know what else you need.
You can find more information about Patrick’s Head and Arse Biscuits! at their website www.patrickshead.com
May 20th, 2008 at 9:56 am
hello and greeting to whomever may read this mr.byrne (john) he would be my teacher and i do agree he is a wonderfull singer i had never really lisnted to this type of music i mean yea sure i have listend to bands such as flogging molley and dropkick murphy but thats punck rock and even still i havent gotten into it (well atleast not enough to listen constently) but after i heard patricks head i changed my opinion on that music now iam purchising a cd from mr.byrne after hearing streams of whiskey and back home in derry i need to hear more (even though i highly recomend both song i enjoyed back home in derry a little more then streams of whiskey) now i must let you know iam 95% itailan and only 5% irish it still makes me think of my irish ancesters,heritage and hstory the lyrics really get me thinking
May 20th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Ronnie, since you’re 95% Italian, did you check out our review of Franco Bordoni’s CD Urgente? Franco is an amazing Italian Celtic musician.