Ladies and gentlemen, we have a classic on our hands.
The McKassons (http://www.themckassons.com), a little-known Celtic folk band from Tacoma, Washington, has recorded the Album of the Year. Who would've thought that a group performing traditional Irish and Scottish folk music in the Pacific Northwest could outdo their European peers.
What makes the McKassons so impressive is the intensity of their performances. It takes more than technical skill to create an authentic Celtic sound, and the McKassons produced these songs with fiery passion and soothing warmth. Just take a listen to Ryan McKasson's scorching fiddling on "Tripping Maggie" and "Mudrats"; they create the most exhilarating high and kick in the arse, the equivalent of downing several bottles of hard ale simultaneously. The group rocks without sounding rock. You have to think that, back in the day, Celtic folk musicians shook the shacks with as much two-fisted punch as the McKassons do.
Throughout the album the fragile piano playing of Cali McKasson (yes, they are a family unit) lovingly calms the thunderous attack of her bandmates, especially on "The Grapevine," "Bonnie George Campbell," and "Tripping Maggie." The group's chemistry leaves me in awe; each functions as an intergral part of the band, providing rich colours.
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The cover of Bruce Springsteen's "If I Should Fall Behind" has the distinction of topping the Boss himself. Brooke McKasson's unguarded emotions give Springsteen's words a sensitive, moving touch it never had before. Given a Celtic makeover, "If I Should Fall Behind" is a stunningly pretty remake. The track builds up with drama and precision; the musicianship is air-tight and transcendent.
On this album, only their second, the McKassons define magic. And the wizardry these lads create do not involve any trickery. They are the real deal, blessed with abundant creativity, a heart full of soul, and fiddles, pianos, cellos, violas, banjos, and percussion that'll haunt your dreams.
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