Howl On Reviews
‘The Right Stuff’ delivers astronaut camaraderie in the improbable guise of a country bar-room lament, while ‘The Heart of Universal Love’ is a paean to earth from deep space.
The Guardian July 2009
The Irish, Kennedy told Steve Early a decade or so ago, invented country music. The former Energy Orchard front-man’s solo albums have done a good job of proving it. He’s back in Northern Ireland after a 20-year exile, but most of these 12 new songs still sound like he’s on a back porch swilling moonshine with a string-band (old-timey Cold War Country Blues; a hoe-down cover of Hey Joe, in a honky-tonk bar drinking beer with friends (The Right Stuff), or on horse-back drinking whatever it is they have in that leather pouch (Ballad of Neil Armstrong) still dreaming of an America where ‘they talk like cowboys’ (America) and heroes once walked. And a fine dream it is too, warm and nostalgic, with an edge.
Mojo (4 Stars)
‘The Bapster’s first album since 2005’s Lonely Street finds him revisiting his American musical roots and childhood memories. The 1969 moon landing looms large, as revealed by tracks such as ‘The Ballad of Neil Armstrong’, Irish Moon’ and the uppity ‘Cold War Country Blues’ which also name checks Hank, Elvis and JFK. Henry McCullough adds muscular guitar to a country-rocked ‘Hey Joe’.
The title track is a beautifully reflective Dylanesque work, and the harmonica-driven ‘Brave Captain’ sounds like it could’ve graced Neil Young’s Harvest.
Howl On is a lovingly-crafted set of tunes – one giant leap for a Belfast man’
Hot Press (4 stars) July 2009
...The Belfast singer/songwriter's new album 'Howl On' which has as its theme the 1969 moon landings is beautiful. Check it out.
‘This is country music at its best – not maudlin or whining and not breast beating and jingoistic either; just songs from the heart that make the listeners think and feel and that bears repeated listening, giving something new each time’
Music News (4 stars) July 2009
Leeds Music Scene July 2009
Released on his own Lonely Street record label the former Energy Orchard main-man proves once again on his sixth solo album since leaving that band just why he gained the attention and support of Van Morrison and Steve Earle to name just two of the major artists who have been touched by his music.
..For those who know of Kennedy it’s safe to say that ‘Howl On’ contains some of his best work to date. If you enjoyed any of his previous solo albums or, indeed, his work with Energy Orchard then you will not be disappointed and will know what to expect. For those yet to have the pleasure of hearing Kennedy then imagine an Irish Steve Earle and you’ll have the main picture, especially for this album. There’s obviously a strong country influence spread thickly over all these songs, not just the ‘Hey Joe’ cover and in the title song, ‘Howl On’ Kennedy has written one of his most beautiful melodies ever and the song is given extra texture, as are others on the album, by the pedal steel supplied by Percy Robinson. Kennedy’s wife, Brenda, a recording artist in her own right, provides backing vocals on many of the songs but never as beautifully as she does on the title track. It really is an outstanding song and all those involved pour their souls into the recording.
Kennedy, like many of his generation, was fascinated by America as a young child and this album was inspired by the events taking place there during this period. The opening song, ‘America’, captures the feelings felt by a young Kennedy perfectly and if the title song wasn’t so damn perfect then this opening song would have been the highlight of the album.
Titles like, ‘Ballad Of Neil Armstrong’ and ‘Cold War Country Blues’ give a strong indication as to where Kennedy’s mind was when he wrote these songs and it’s refreshing to hear such heart-felt emotions wrapped in warm, comfortable country tunes, it’s been far too long since we have heard a whole album which was inspired by the thoughts of a child captured by the fascinating images coming through his television and wishing he could be part of that far-off land.
This is an extremely strong set of songs from one of Ireland’s most respected and talented artists and comes highly recommended.
Indiemusic/Pennyblack
‘Kennedy has consistently produced classic albums. The cover of Hey Joe is an inspired choice, with a skiffle beat and some dirty guitar licks thrown in for good measure...Kennedy’s voice is as distinctive as ever’
Music Critic July 2009
One of Irish music's best-kept secrets
‘One of Irish music's best-kept secrets, Bap Kennedy is well into his fourth decade of recording to a devoted cult audience....Following on from such fine albums as The Domestic Blues (1998) and The Big Picture (2005), Kennedy's Howl On is another object lesson in economical songwriting and solid musicianship.
The soft shuffle and aching slide guitar of the opening America set the scene, with Kennedy retreating to his childhood self and imagining the American dream from in front of his TV set. It's a beautiful little song, self-referential but not self-indulgent.
The following Cold War Country Blues is even better. The structure is pure Hank Williams honky-tonk, all toe-tapping melody and acoustic guitar, but it is Kennedy's lyrics that nail the song home. A slightly surreal riff on Hank, Elvis, JFK and Jim Lovell (the former NASA astronaut), the song is liberally sprinkled with delicious non-sequiturs the best of which is "they sent Hank Williams to the moon".
Occasionally Kennedy's Celtic soul roots shine through, notably on Right Stuff and the beautiful title track. For the best part of the album, however, it is rootsy country/folk all the way, even on the autobiographical Irish Moon which tips a wink (and a drink) to the forgotten astronaut Michael Collins.
...I was reminded most of Ry Cooder, with a musician reaching back to early, basic music forms to provide a commentary on our troubled times, but also having a damn good time recording the album to boot’
Music OMH July 2009
Kennedy’s best so far
Howl On represents (Kennedys) best so far, reflecting as it does, the spirit of Americana through Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid-era Dylan (eg ‘Cold War Country Blues’, ‘The Right Stuff’ and ‘The Blue One’). Featuring fellow Irishman Henry McCullough on guitar, Kennedy upbeats Hendrix’s old trad nugget, ‘Hey Joe’, a Woodstock hangover from one of Bap’s other childhood inspirations: – Neil Armstrong and the 1969 moon landing.
The List (4 Star) July 2009
‘After working with country wild child Steve Earle in the past and being no stranger to the upper echelons of Billboard's Americana top ten, it comes as no surprise that Belfast born Bap Kennedy holds much fondness for the good old USA. Kennedy has never made any secret of his country-rock tendencies and Howl On, his fourth solo album, is no exception to the rule.
The LP itself is a nostalgic trip through American social and cultural history, taking in the 1969 moon landings, JFK, the cold war and Jimi Hendrix bringing Woodstock to its knees. Album opener America is a sentimental look across the ocean with a slow and smooth acoustic-driven beat with laid back vocals that unsurprisingly declare, ‘All I want to do/Is to be like you’.
A country soaked cover of Hey Joe, the song that helped make Hendrix, is a particular stand out, displaying a more upbeat tempo and optimistic tone than the Seattle axeman’s version.
...Ballad of Neil Armstrong wraps up the album nicely with Kennedy recalling the first man on the moon ‘sailing into the void’, yet still heading for greatness. Suddenly, Belfast to Nashville doesn’t seem quite so distant’
‘Bap sets out his stall at the point where country and blues fused themselves together and spawned rock & roll. From the plaintive, opening ‘America’ with it’s yearning melancholy (and hints of, dare I say it, Bob Dylan), Kennedy sets out his stall as a guy who wonders what might have been.
....We get a cover of ‘Hey Joe’ here too, and it’s a nice take, reverential more to the songs roots and played with an anxious pace, rather than the languid Hendrix take’
Call Upon the Author, July 2009
Leeds Music Scene (Hey Joe 4.5 stars) July 2009
For what it is worth, any time I have played ANY of Bap's music for friends (even those who are not Americana "types"), the response is usually some of form of: "Oh my God, this guy is amazing! Why have I not heard of him?" Of course, here in the US, our culture worships and make wealthy and famous so many talent-less musicians. Or, to be fair, perhaps some have talent, but are overproduced and "packaged." I would put Bap Kennedy's body of work of the past 10 years up against any Grammy winners. His work would best most of them. Indeed, modern music awards are utterly meaningless!!! It seems more than ever, image is king; the music itself seems more and more secondary. But alas, I digress. Probably because it is somewhat maddening to see shallow, vapid, and spiritless music (from so called "artists") rewarded, while so many truly talented and interesting artists toil in varying degrees of obscurity! Nevertheless, and back to the point, after 4 or 5 listens, I believe "Howl On" ranks as good as any of Bap's previous records, and will hopefully catch some broader attention (as has happened recently with Neko Case and her most recent album... she's another gifted artist!). As per usual, Bap has surrounded himself with a wonderful supporting cast. The pedal steel and other guitar work is especially spectacular. His ballads are, as we've come to expect from him, beautiful and evocative ("Ballad of Neil Armstrong," and "Howl On"). I hope Bap will be touring in the US, and come to Nashville. Many of the musicians in this town should come pay some respect, and would likely learn a thing or two! Bap is wonderfully gifted with pen and voice, and he continues to put out GREAT records.
Amazon.com review 5 stars (PR Harris)
If you like any of Bap's previous offerings, you will love this album! He returns with a great mix of country and blues to celebrate all things related to the moon landng's of 40 years ago. It's a great album, and you won't be dissapointed....just remember to tell everyone how good it is!
Amazon.co.uk review 5 stars (Rollie)
“Fresh, new & unique”
In purely showbusiness terms, you could hardly describe a Bap Kennedy release as an 'event'. For a musician of his talents, he defines letting the music speak for itself.Then again, when you can create an album of such intelligent eloquence what need have you of showbusiness frippery? Ultimately Howl On becomes a comforting affirmation that there are still serious musicians out there making albums of substance.
In some ways Howl On is a slightly strange album , not in content, but in philosophy. It's an album inspired by the 60s, nothing new in that. However, instead of the peace and love generation, Kennedy draws his inspiration from his fascination with the race to the moon. It's no coincidence that it is released 40 years on from that 'One giant leap' and that the Ballad of Neil Armstrong closes the album, although they are the only obvious things about Howl On. Given that, it is surprising that the clearest reference to the 60s comes with a country rock cover of Hendrix's Hey Joe - the song that closed the ultimate 60s event, Wood stock. Mind you the Woodstock generation would be hard pushed to recognize Kennedy's treatment of the song. It's going to be a track that splits opinion of that there is no doubt. The Woodstock connection is strengthened as Henry McCullough, the only Irish musician to play Woodstock, joins Kennedy on Hey Joe.
The remainder of Howl On is a pure delight, built on the foundations of some marvellous songwriting and sympathetic, honest performances. Coldwater Country Blues, is clever and funny without ever showing off. Its time may be four decades old but it still rings true.
It's Kennedy's breadth of imagination and depth of soul that are the true inspirations behind Howl On. Eventually, any sense that this is a concept album built simply around the space race fades under the weight of songs that are about much, much more than a great adventure. Kennedy turns a song like Irish Moon - ostensibly about Michael Collins, the third man on Apollo 11 - into a touchingly romantic ballad.
Throughout Howl On Kennedy shows the natural ability to get to the real heart of the song, the title track may be relaxed and even stylish in execution but it's edge is still razor-sharp. Musicians of the calibre of Bap Kennedy have no need to force their talents on anyone, the invite to enjoy and explore a song like Brave Captain is irresistible. Howl On shows that modern folk music is alive and thriving, Kennedy is not about to deny his musical roots - Howl On is Irish folk and proud of it. However, with a song like The Heart Of Universal Love in its midst, Howl On is fresh, new and unique.
Michael Mee, Netrhythms Aug 09
“Hymn to the endurance of the human heart “
Older brother of Brian and formerly singer with Energy Orchard, Kennedy spent most of the recent years living in Nashville and while, newly married to Brenda (who provides backing vocals) he's now returned home to Northern Ireland, his fascination for recent American history and its musical culture remains firmly in evidence on the self-produced new album.
Indeed, the opening track is actually titled America, a beautiful soft acoustic slide guitar shuffle that reflects on his childhood fantasies of the brave new world, cowboy gunbelt hanging from his skinny hips. An uptempo honky tonk acoustic blues stomp, Cold War Country Blues deftly tosses off a clutch of 60s references, Elvis signing up, JFK and the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Jim Lovell who piloted the first Apollo mission to go into lunar orbit and who, as the song reminds, took Hank Williams to the moon with Apollo 13.
It's not the only track to reference the US space programme. Dylanesque in delivery and border country in melody, The Right Stuff borrows its title from Tom Wolfe's story of the Mercury 7 astronauts and, while never specific, obliquely imagines the NASA astronauts as a band of brothers riding the cosmic range. More direct is the Presley-like country ballad closer Ballad Of Neil Armstrong where he adopts the persona of the Apollo 11 leader as he asks his sweetheart to put in a good word with God as "I sail my ship into the void." Then there's the Celtic pub folk strumalong Irish Moon which sings of Michael Collins, not the Irish rebel but the largely forgotten Apollo 11 command module pilot.
Tipping the hat to another of his heroes, Hey Joe revisits the track best known by Hendrix, but, with Henry McCullough on guitar, he reworks it as an uptempo train shuffle country blues boogie. Just to keep the 1969 theme going, Hendrix played the song at Woodstock where McCullough was the only Irish musician to perform.
The other numbers may not be so America-centric, but, variously evoking Dylan, Knopfler and Young, the likes of the harmonica mournful Brave Captain, The Blue One's lilting meditation on humanity and 'speck of light' on which it exists, and the title track's hymn to the endurance of the human heart, are no less beguiling contributions to an album that fully deserves a slot in those end of year best of lists.
Mike Davies, Netrhythms Aug 09
We can hardly hold this latter against him, however, and this new solo album 'Howl On' suggests that he's on a creative roll all his own. It's his fourth solo record since 1998 (his critically-acclaimed debut 'Domestic Blues' was produced by Steve Earle) and while previous high-profile collaborators such as Van Morrison and Shane MacGowan are absent this time round, that's largely immaterial. 'Howl On' is an intelligent, easy-going country-tinged treasure which doesn't require name-dropping to make its' point.
It's also (don't panic!) a 'concept' album of sorts, in that many of the songs were written to commemorate the 40th anniversary of that pivotal year 1969. Arguably the year the Hippie dream went sour for good, it was of course the year of Woodstock, Altamont and, more presciently, the Moon Landing. Several of the tunes thus refer directly to these events, but hearteningly, they're among the best things here.
'Cold War Country Blues' is a snappy, Hank Williams-referencing roots riot which catches the political wind of those times (“you'd better get it right John Kennedy..'cos if you get it wrong they're gonna drop the atom bomb”) while the plaintive 'Brave Captain' discusses the 'will they or won't they?' aspect of whether the Apollo mission to the Moon will make it or not. The self-explanatory 'Ballad of Neil Armstrong', meanwhile, is hardly celebratory, but it is a classic, teary-eyed acoustic ballad which is not only a great finale, but perhaps the finest tune of all on display here.
Woodstock is evoked deliberately through an Albert Lee-style country-rock clip through the Hendrix-heisted 'Hey Joe' (with Woodstock performer Henry McCullough on guitar), although it's the one less than essential selection here. Far better are honest-to-goodness roots confessionals like 'The Blue One' or the lilting 'America' which appears to be about the author's on-going love-hate relationship with the vast continent and benefits from some gorgeous, Sneaky Pete-style Hawaiian pedal steel from Percy Robinson.
Elsewhere, there are a couple of likeable surprises. With its' references to Michael Collins, 'Irish Moon' could be a rebel song of sorts, though it could just as easily be cocking a snook to the dreaded 'Country & Irish' sound (if there's such a thing as a musical equivalent of the German Democratic Republic this is surely it), yet somehow its' beauty is there for all to hear. 'One of Those Days' also distinguishes itself: partly for rocking harder than anything else here, but also for its' positivity-first lyrical slant (“I tried to keep it positive and see the Cosmic plan/ 'cos I know in the scheme of things I'm a lucky man”) which makes a refreshing change amid the usual whiny Rock Star bollocks.
This review, then, is one of those pleasurable experiences where prejudices can be ripped up and lobbed on to the bonfire. Having for many years dismissed Bap Kennedy by dint of association, he's come along and blown me away with a peach of a country-roots album when I least expected it. I didn't imagine I'd respond to 'Howl On', yet it turns out to be a truly affecting sound. Nuff respect to its' author, however belatedly.
