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These Old Blind Dogs have had to learn some new tricks. With the departure of longtime vocalist and venerable folkie Ian Benzie, in addition to other lineup renegotiations, Dog veterans Jonny Hardie and Buzzby McMillan are all that remain of the old order. In spite of the inherent need to shed the doubts and quibbles of long-time listeners, The World's Room takes these Scottish neotraditionalists in an exciting new direction while retaining the strengths of the band in its former incarnation. Jim Malcom, a fine melodious singer, admirably fills the shoes vacated by Benzie, while Rory Campbell's pipes and whistles flit and float and teen sensation Paul Jennings' percussion keeps the group within a tightly wrought framework. As ever, multi-instrumentalist Hardie's fiddle sings out sweet and McMillan's bass and cittern lend symmetry to the set's marriage of traditionals and originals, notably Campbell's "The Ritual" and "Soup of the Day," the latter a willy-nilly band jam to a funky pipe tune. --Paige La Grone
Customer Review: Collision of traditional Scottish music and modern tones
I'm a latecomer to Blind Old Dogs, having missed the band in its previous incarnations, so I have no frame of reference regarding old vs. new lineups or sounds. That said, I've listened to this disc half a dozen times and keep hearing something new each time: some clever percussion, a vocal harmony, buzzing of bagpipes, even some electronics. The layers of music and clear fidelity demand close attention, but it's the excellent musicianship and crisp, sometimes haunting vocals that tend to linger. I know that some people are cursed or blessed with senses that don't behave as they should (they smell colors or hear textures, it is said), and I keep associating vivid blues, greens, and reds with this music---for what that's worth. Back to the music, the songs, a combination of traditional Scottish tunes and some originals that sound like traditional Scottish tunes, balance tales of woe and loss with celebrations of love and life. It took me a listen or two to penetrate the sometimes thick Scottish dialect, but the actual words almost don't matter, for it's the vocals imbue much of the character to the songs. Several splendid instrumentals round out the session. It's intriguing to hear the interweaving of modern and traditional instruments that occurs in a few spots, a collision of influences that yields a fresh sound. There is a color or timbre here that sometimes seems missing in some (by no means all) of the English folk music I've heard, and the fiddle, which ruins a great deal of Irish music for me, does not seem overdone. All in all, a very enjoyable CD that bears repeated listenings. I'll be looking to add more of this music to my collection.
Customer Review: MELLOW OLD BLIND DOGS
There is no denying the talent and skill of the Old Blind Dogs. One need only listen to tracks like To The Beggin' I Will Go, Mill O'Tifty and The Ritual. However, they have yet to make THE Old Blind Dogs Album. This group is awesome live. They have energy, intelligence and wit that are rarely matched. The World's Room serves as a very good introduction to the band's mellow side. There is not a weak song on the disc. There are flashes of brilliance (the tracks I mentioned above, The Battle of Waterloo, Roslin Castle). I just feel it should all come together more. I have yet to find an album by the Old Blind Dogs that allows me to demonstrate fully to others why I love their music. My copy of The World's Room was given to me for Christmas by my brother so it holds a special place in my heart. Fit? is another excellent album that showcases the rowdier side of the Old Blind Dogs. This listener is still waiting for the true greatness of the Old Blind Dogs to shine through on a recording. Until then, I recommend The World's Room and Fit?. They are not perfect Old Blind Dogs recordings, but they are miles ahead of anything you're liable to hear on commercial radio.


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