Damien Dempsey

[gilberto_eire]

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

if there simplistic lyrics, what isnt??... im stumped now..because he's telling stories, what is it that happens in mainstream so?? off the top of my head even johnny cash's lyrics are ridicioules....''jackson'' just came to my head

''We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,
We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.....''

i know not all his songs are that simplistic but its the norm for him...i could quote some damo too...while every single line mightnt be deep though it is the majority!

[Wolfie]

The songs that reference "Old Ireland" are more to acknowledge that these people existed and suffered. It's not to harp on about the past but more to acknowledge that these people were not a figment of our imagination.

He's far from fixated about Ireland exlusively. A lot of the new album has universal themes.

On previous albums he's written about the Choctaw Nation (American Indians) and has referenced the Indian in Asia, Aboriginal Australia and the African People. He's a song on the new album that references the Maasai tribe.

Some of the lyrical content on the new album is quite poetic:

on "Masaai"

When I die, I want to die
Not in a home built by the unknown
but by the hand of the Maasai

When I Love, I want to Love
Not like a swine with no semblence of spine
but like a flower loves sunshine.

OK, its not Dylanesque but its not overly simplistic either.

As previously posted - music is all about personal taste. One man's meat is another mans poison etc etc. I do believe he's to be celebrated in Ireland rather than ridiculed.

Sadly, until he makes it in abroad, he won't gain the recognition he deserves here.

[Dricky]

Can't say I'm a fan but he certainly has a strong following in Ireland and he is not like the manufactured band so more power to him. I found his earlier stuff easier on the ears.
At least it is getting a lot of Dubs off their addiction with Aslan.

[anto1208]

Can't say I'm a fan but he certainly has a strong following in Ireland and he is not like the manufactured band so more power to him. I found his earlier stuff easier on the ears.
At least it is getting a lot of Dubs off their addiction with Aslan.

I never understood that , how the hell can anyone pay money to see them , one good song and it was a cover !!!

[anto1208]

The songs that reference "Old Ireland" are more to acknowledge that these people existed and suffered. It's not to harp on about the past but more to acknowledge that these people were not a figment of our imagination.

He's far from fixated about Ireland exlusively. A lot of the new album has universal themes.

On previous albums he's written about the Choctaw Nation (American Indians) and has referenced the Indian in Asia, Aboriginal Australia and the African People. He's a song on the new album that references the Maasai tribe.

Some of the lyrical content on the new album is quite poetic:

on "Masaai"

When I die, I want to die
Not in a home built by the unknown
but by the hand of the Maasai

When I Love, I want to Love
Not like a swine with no semblence of spine
but like a flower loves sunshine.

OK, its not Dylanesque but its not overly simplistic either.

As previously posted - music is all about personal taste. One man's meat is another mans poison etc etc. I do believe he's to be celebrated in Ireland rather than ridiculed.

Sadly, until he makes it in abroad, he won't gain the recognition he deserves here.

Im not saying its bad im just saying he is no conor Orburst or pete doherthey who are much more poetic , I like damo i have the first 3 albums ill get this one too . As someone else said sometimes he does get a bit im sad it makes me mad ....... But he should be celebrated the people that say things liek he's a poor pub singer are the kind of peopel that reckon chris martin is a great song writer or the Kaiser chiefs are good !!

[gilberto_eire]

(for any1 who likes him and didnt see this)
went on wiki on his page and found a link to an hr long documentary made by RTE about him up until ''seize the day'' came out, its good worth a look!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Dempsey

on another note just got the album earlier, and so far so good!!

[Wolfie]

(for any1 who likes him and didnt see this)
went on wiki on his page and found a link to an hr long documentary made by RTE about him up until ''seize the day'' came out, its good worth a look!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Dempsey

on another note just got the album earlier, and so far so good!!

Yeah, Gilberto - I've seen that documentary a few times and its very good.

What's the verdict on the album?

[SligoBrewer]

(for any1 who likes him and didnt see this)
went on wiki on his page and found a link to an hr long documentary made by RTE about him up until ''seize the day'' came out, its good worth a look!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Dempsey

on another note just got the album earlier, and so far so good!!

you spent an hour watching that wailing git

[gilberto_eire]

Yeah, Gilberto - I've seen that documentary a few times and its very good.

What's the verdict on the album?

its a massive change of style from the first two anyway(i dunno it feels differant anyway....??)
i really like ''maasai'' and ''your pretty smile'' so far after 2/3 listens(they have stuck out so far) but thats not saying others arent good i like ''Kilburn Stroll'' and ''Chase the Light'' too but they just havent stuck out as much at this early stage yet!
maasai has a slight similarity to ''marching season song'' instrumental wise!
i think im gonna like them all bar one from 1st time listening anyway... that been ''serious'' the story telling one(similar to stan-eminem in style) but have only gave it a brief listen!!..... looks as good as ''Shots'' anyway but i dont think anyone could top ''seize the day'' there isnt one song on that i dont think top is class and it is pure genius!!

[TonyD]

Im not saying its bad im just saying he is no conor Orburst or pete doherthey who are much more poetic , I like damo i have the first 3 albums ill get this one too . As someone else said sometimes he does get a bit im sad it makes me mad ....... But he should be celebrated the people that say things liek he's a poor pub singer are the kind of peopel that reckon chris martin is a great song writer or the Kaiser chiefs are good !!

That was me, and I stand by it. I'm not a fan of Chris Martin either, the Kaiserchiefs have a couple of good songs (in rowdy knockabout kind of way) If you want to listen to someone who sings in his own accent and writes simple(rather than simplistic) honest and heartfelt lyrics, not to mention songs with actual tunes, try Billy Bragg. Streets ahead of Damo.

[Wolfie]

That was me, and I stand by it. I'm not a fan of Chris Martin either, the Kaiserchiefs have a couple of good songs (in rowdy knockabout kind of way) If you want to listen to someone who sings in his own accent and writes simple(rather than simplistic) honest and heartfelt lyrics, not to mention songs with actual tunes, try Billy Bragg. Streets ahead of Damo.

The new Damo album is lyrically articulate with tunes a plenty!!!

[anto1208]

That was me, and I stand by it. I'm not a fan of Chris Martin either, the Kaiserchiefs have a couple of good songs (in rowdy knockabout kind of way) If you want to listen to someone who sings in his own accent and writes simple(rather than simplistic) honest and heartfelt lyrics, not to mention songs with actual tunes, try Billy Bragg. Streets ahead of Damo.

I have nt heard billy bragg , but a mate has recomended him i was slightly put off as the same mate thinks snow patrol are good

[TonyD]

I just went on to youtube and checked out DD, just to see if I was wrong. Guess what ? I wasn't. Clicked on a song called factories. No discernible tune - lyric which went "doing drugs and drinking makes you so depressed, and then you think you're blessed, when you're chopping a tablet" (Apologies if I've misquoted, I think that's how it went)

Dear God !

Oh and Anto, if you can get youtube check out Billy Bragg on that. (And don't let the Snow Patrol thing put you off - different planets

[gilberto_eire]

I just went on to youtube and checked out DD, just to see if I was wrong. Guess what ? I wasn't. Clicked on a song called factories. No discernible tune - lyric which went "doing drugs and drinking makes you so depressed, and then you think you're blessed, when you're chopping a tablet" (Apologies if I've misquoted, I think that's how it went)

Dear God !

Oh and Anto, if you can get youtube check out Billy Bragg on that. (And don't let the Snow Patrol thing put you off - different planets

its when your DROPPING a tablet!!...... ya whats wrong with that?. he's saying that drugs make you depressed but you only think of what they do to ya when your taking them and your blind to the emotional effects they have apart from that
you've viewed that song as ''i just want to prove myself right'' there was nothing going to change your opinion thats fair enough it would be the same as someone telling me about ''grunge metal'' slipknot etc.... even if i listened id be saying in my head ''its ****'' and i wouldnt change my opinion cause i really dont want too anyway!

the price of oil-billy bragg

It's all about the price of oil
it's all about the price of oil
don't give me no ****
about blood, sweat, tears and toil
it's all about the price of oil

see ive looked at this negatively looking to scrutinise something and i can say thats even worse then the lines you picked out!!...

[TonyD]

its when your DROPPING a tablet!!...... ya whats wrong with that?. he's saying that drugs make you depressed No, is he really ? but you only think of what they do to ya when your taking them and your blind to the emotional effects they have apart from that
you've viewed that song as ''i just want to prove myself right'' there was nothing going to change your opinion Oh, I dunno, a decent tune might have thats fair enough it would be the same as someone telling me about ''grunge metal'' slipknot etc.... even if i listened id be saying in my head ''its ****'' and i wouldnt change my opinion cause i really dont want too anyway!

the price of oil-billy bragg

It's all about the price of oil
it's all about the price of oil
don't give me no ****
about blood, sweat, tears and toil
it's all about the price of oil

see ive looked at this negatively looking to scrutinise something and i can say thats even worse then the lines you picked out!!...

You can say it, I can disagree. OK, it's not the Bragsters finest hour lyric wise (actually I've always preferred his personal songs over his political anyway) but there's plenty of examples of fine Bragg lyrics, and I'll say it again, TUNES. And if you think I'm being selective and unfair on Damo, point me towards a good song by him. Can't say fairer than that.

[gilberto_eire]

the 1st one i heard anyway and which is one of his best is ''negative vibes'' or ''its all good'' the latter been the one a friend of mine LOVES even though he's not big into this type of music...... ''its all good'' is on youtube but its live and i dont think he's as good live cause he doesnt fake and just uses instruments with no studio sounds!!... those two tune wise and all round are good...but if you want good lyrics ''cursed with a brain'' is good, has a point imo!. well if you want any of those songs ill provide them for ya over msn if you have that!...i know im that nice a guy!!

[Wolfie]

And if you think I'm being selective and unfair on Damo, point me towards a good song by him. Can't say fairer than that.

TonyD - I think these are strong Damo tracks:

"Spraypaint Back Alley", "Not on your own tonight", "Party on", "Hold Me", "Sing all our cares away", "Choctaw Nation" - All these are on the album "Shots".

"Maasai", "You're Pretty Smile", "Kilburn Stroll", "Chase the Light", "Teachers", "To Hell or Barbados", "Summers in my Heart" - all off of the new album.

Like most things worth sticking with - he's an acquired taste. Like Guinness. Once you "get it" - you're hooked.

I've listened to Indie tunes pretty much from when I heard the first Roses LP in 1989 and I was converted to the Damo cause.

[Marked Man]

It's a little unfair to compare Damien Dempsey with Bob Dylan (45 years of recording experience) and Billy Bragg (about 25 years). Dempsey is still fairly early on in his career, and at the corresponding points in their careers, both of the other two artists named above had a fairly straightforward and earnest approach to their craft. Look at Dylan's "The times They are a-Changing" most of the songs there are extremely literal protest songs. Similarly, Bragg's first few eps/albums are made up largely of literal songs that describe either his own personal experience or protest aspects of Thatcherite England ("it says here", "lovers town revisited"). When he attempted the metaphorical, the results were sometimes embarrassing ("I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint...").

For the record, I like all 3 artists. My point is that songwriters develop their craft as they go along, and it's not uncommon for young songwriters to favor direct, literal lyrics, before they become adept with the use of imagery.

And while there's nothing wrong at all with literal, direct lyrics (or else how would the Sex Pistols or The Clash be any good?), there's plenty of imagery in Dempsey's songs (look at how he plays with pre-existing imagery: the idea of the Celtic Tiger as a vicious animal, New York as the apple of his eye; or uses images of ghosts of the departed on building stairwells, or the image of a blizzard to set the scene for an acid trip gone wrong; or images from Irish history: woodcairns, seanchais, etc...).

In the end, you either like him or don't, but there is plenty of imagery to be found if you're willing to put the time in with him that you would with other artists.

[anto1208]

It's all about the price of oil
it's all about the price of oil
don't give me no ****
about blood, sweat, tears and toil
it's all about the price of oil


Oh no not yet another song writter going on about crap they know nothing about .

[Marked Man]

You think it isn't about the price of oil?