Damien Dempsey

[Wolfie]

With a new album due out 1st June - "To Hell or Barbados" and a gig in Vicar Street on the same night - I thought I'd throw this one up for discussion.

Despite very loyal core support both in Ireland and abroad - opinion remains divided on Damo. I've been a long time fan of his tunes and think he remains seriously under-rated.

Apart from a few others, he's a contemporary Irish artist to be proud of rather than embarassed about.

So, Damo - Genius or clueless?

[anto1208]

I was a big fan i like the songs iv e seen him 3 or 4 times now ,i like that he sings in his own accent , but i just wish he would shut up going on about the old celtic days and about imperial rule at the hands of the british etc etc . Some times i listen to them and think who is he talking to whats the point in giving out to dead people !!. He goes on like old ireland was a great place where people held hands and picked flowers and where really advanced untill the english came and ruined it .


Still id prefere to listen to him than a band in a can lot like bell x1 or snow patrol .

[Wolfie]

I was a big fan i like the songs iv e seen him 3 or 4 times now ,i like that he sings in his own accent , but i just wish he would shut up going on about the old celtic days and about imperial rule at the hands of the british etc etc . Some times i listen to them and think who is he talking to whats the point in giving out to dead people !!. He goes on like old ireland was a great place where people held hands and picked flowers and where really advanced untill the english came and ruined it .


Still id prefere to listen to him than a band in a can lot like bell x1 or snow patrol .

Its true - a song like "Colony" - a song about colonisation - isn't for everyone.

That said - songs like "Spraypaint Back Alley" and "Factories" are about growing up in an urban area that many could identify with.

Due to a few tunes that dealt with colonisation and other irish struggles he's become stereotyped - unfairly in my opinion. The majority of his songs deal with wider themes and are often brilliantly articulated and observed.

[Dodge]

Can't stand him. Simplistic lyrics, horrible voice. He's a like that bloke that sings in the bar in every local pub in Dublin. Only more annoying

[brokenstar]

Can't stand him. Simplistic lyrics, horrible voice. He's a like that bloke that sings in the bar in every local pub in Dublin. Only more annoying

Have to say i agree with Dodge on this one. Don't really see the appeal here at all. And i'd have to say he's TWICE as annoying as that bloke in the pubs!

[SligoBrewer]

hes a wannbe n00b ronnie drew

[TonyD]

Despite very loyal core support both in Ireland and abroad - opinion remains divided on Damo. I've been a long time fan of his tunes and think he remains seriously under-rated.

Tunes ? Damien Dempsey ? Shurley Shome Mishtake

Agree with Dodge. Awful voice, lyrics of the "World is bad/I'm so sad/it makes me mad... school. File under - Doing it for a Bet.

[Wolfie]

Given the overwhelmingly positive vibes on this thread so far - - The following comments may be as welcome as a fart in a space suit - but I'll take the barbed comments in order to add...............................

Damien Dempsey gig at Vicar Street on Friday was excellent. Definitely the best Irish live performer around at the moment. The atmosphere at the gigs are always brilliant. Great to see a performer feed off the crowds vibes and to put so much into a gig. A true original.

The new album - "To Hell or Barbados" is excellent by anyones standards - and its very apparent to hear a new maturity in the songwriting, the vocals and the scope of the songs subject matter.

If this album were released by more trendy artists - it would be labelled an instant classic.

Simplistic lyrics and poor vocals certainly can't be levelled at him on this album.

Hope I'm not coming across too evangelical on this but I genuinely think this album deserves to be heard. There's an honesty and an earnestness to some tunes that may not be for everyone - but there's no doubting the talent. Sometimes a total musical diet of wry sarcasm aint enough.

Do youself a favour and give the new album a listen with an open mind.

[Dodge]

Do youself a favour and give the new album a listen with an open mind.

I won't thanks BUT music is all about opnions and he obviously has a fairly big following so good luck to him (and anyone who likes him)

[anto1208]

Ill still prob get the album as i like him and there has been nothing else any good released for ages .

I have seen him a few times and will go to see him again this year at picnic

[gilberto_eire]

Can't stand him. Simplistic lyrics, horrible voice. He's a like that bloke that sings in the bar in every local pub in Dublin. Only more annoying

thats an awful description to give imo. ive been a fan since the day the 2nd album came out(but was aware of him before that stage) from the 1st two albums(not including the old one which was re-released after Shots and which most ppl call the 1st ''they dont teach this **** in school'' ) there is barely a bad song in there. the 1st album(seize the day) is flawless id listen to every song on it and ''shots'' only has 2/3 bad songs on it.
simplistic lyrics??.... not really... even so i pointed out to a friend recently when listening to a song that its 90% beat and even if they made a humming noise to the rhythem of the words it would still be good song.
but thats not to say his words are simple, if most here have only heard the songs on the radio and on jukeboxs etc... well then you have only heard the lesser songs IMO as the good ones were never released!.
''Apple of my Eye'' ''Negative Vibes'' ''Cursed with a Brain'' ''Its All Good'' and ''celtic tiger'' to name but a few, check them few songs out and if you still feel the same fair enough... the lyrics for ''cursed with a brain'' are FAR from simplistic are very powerful about how we act as humans!!, or ''celtic tiger''.. about how greedy the country has got...

i think its sad the an artist is writing origional songs about real things is been accused of been ''simplistic''... while snow patrol(along with the majority of every other band/artist) sing about ''chasing cars''(dont want to write the lyrics out say them in your head its mumbo jumbo) and

if anyone really wants to hear them and has no access id be more then happy to(spread the word) send via msn

[Dodge]

i think its sad the an artist is writing origional songs about real things is been accused of been ''simplistic''... while snow patrol(along with the majority of every other band/artist) sing about ''chasing cars''(dont want to write the lyrics out say them in your head its mumbo jumbo)

For the record I wouldn't say Snow Patrol are any better than him.

And ever hear of Metaphors? Or even imagery?

[gilberto_eire]

For the record I wouldn't say Snow Patrol are any better than him.

And ever hear of Metaphors? Or even imagery?

ya well its the same for damo too... your saying his lyrics are ''simplistic'' which there not..cant defend every song alright but the majority are about delicate topics and not nonsense....
all im saying is you cant attack someone for something they dont even do, when your prob a fan of mainstream acts(<insert most mainstream acts name here>), that are full of it

[Dodge]

Why would make assumptions about my tastes based on my opinion of ONE singer?

Anyway, I think he's awful and you don't so like I said to Wolfie, enjoy

[gilberto_eire]

Why would make assumptions about my tastes based on my opinion of ONE singer?

Anyway, I think he's awful and you don't so like I said to Wolfie, enjoy

not till i ''convert'' you!!.....

[Wolfie]

Ill still prob get the album as i like him and there has been nothing else any good released for ages .

I have seen him a few times and will go to see him again this year at picnic

Its well worth getting Anto - check out Maasai, Kilburn Stroll, Teachers and To Hell or Barbados.

[jebus]

Have to say that my girlfriend's a fan and gave me a loan of two albums and I thought they were muck. Couldn't get into any of the subjects he was trying to bring across, thought his voice/accent was horrible, and overall didn't like his somewhat twee Irish attitude. I'm sure I'll end up listening to the new album at some point, if only to appease the missus

[anto1208]

Have to say that my girlfriend's a fan and gave me a loan of two albums and I thought they were muck. Couldn't get into any of the subjects he was trying to bring across, thought his voice/accent was horrible, and overall didn't like his somewhat twee Irish attitude. I'm sure I'll end up listening to the new album at some point, if only to appease the missus

I like the fact he sings in his own accient ( dispite my hatred for all things dublin ) rather than puttin gon a fake american accient .

Live he is brilliant rocked dolans recently , but i do sometimes get annoyed with the "old ireland was great" and the "im being kept down" attitude that comes across sometimes . But you get that with all working class people

But i dont think anyone can say seize the day is anything but a class song

[jebus]

I like the fact he sings in his own accient ( dispite my hatred for all things dublin ) rather than puttin gon a fake american accient .

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather his horrible Dublin accent to a put on American accent all day, but I still don't want to have to listen to it.

Isn't the lyrics to Seize The Day..."Seize the dayayaya, sure at least you've had a laugh"? or something to that effect?

[anto1208]

you dont want no regrets when you look back .

But any lyrics written out sound stupid , i dont think he is great but at least while maybe simplistic they do say something rather than random words that rhyme