The Oysterband - Trawler Album Review [video included]

The Oysterband is just that kind of band that never really gave up. Their sound evolved throughout the 80's and 90's until they had discovered a blend so original they had to act on it. "Trawler" is just that--a blend of new and old songs, reworked to modern splendor of the quality you'd expect from this British class-act.

The album is sort of a cover-project. They take many of their older "hits" and remake them into a more modern and often more catchy version. Don't expect Trawler to be an independent album, it's something that Oyster fans and folk-rockers will love. It's not something that I'd recommend as a starting point for those unfamiliar with this territory.

The album launches with the driving "Hal An Tow." This old english tune is revamped from their 1988 version, and not only the guitar is louder, but it's meaner and edgier than they've ever had. Alan Prosser's the one to look to in this project, since virtually the only thing tat changes is his translation from the olde to the new. Occasionally, however, Jon Jones surprises us with some good vocals and Chopper will outdo himself on the Cello. As always, though, the remaing members (Lee and Telfer) are spot on the entire way thru. I call them the "silent duo" as they are the heartbeat of the music yet you don't really realise they are there.

The song "Another Quiet Night in England" is the biggest improvement. This song hardly resembles the 1989 version from "Wide Blue Yonder." The once punk-driven ballad is transformed into a slow classic rock opera. The song is absolutely marvelous, arguably the gem of the entire album.

"We Could Leave Right Now" is largely ignorable since the differences between it and the 1991 version from "Deserters" are minscule to none.I was never really a fan of that song, one of the few Oyster numbers I tend to shy away from when it comes its turn to play. It's a decent piece and is certainly a mainstay for the band, however.

"Blood Wedding", "Rambling Irishman", "Granite Years", and "The Lost  and Found" are all original versions, able to be found on different albums here and there. They're good songs, but I will end up writing about them in other reviews in the future.

"Oxford Girl" is an interesting debacle. The song is twisted and sad, yet sometimes humourous and satirical. The Oysterband obviously wrote it for its irony, and this version trumps the original considerably. Sadly they ahve rereleased it yet again on their upcoming album, "Oxford Girl and other Stories", although that version will be entirely acoustic and toned down.

I never liked their song "Love Vigilantes" at first, since it was a cover. Oysters seldom cover songs, usually one an album or so, which does some varying they need when their music goes stale. This song I feel is not much better than the original. It's just longer and showcases more instruments than the first version did. I think it misses the emotion the original had, however, and sadly I would put this in the same boat as "We Could Leave." It's not at all ignorable, it's just not a stand out.

The album progressivly improves from here on!

"Polish Plain" is a song I never listened to much before Trawler was in my library. Perhaps it's the whole word polish, since I am not polish at all nor have I any connections to the nation itself. The melody is offbeat and abnormal for the Oysters, and I scratched my head why they put it on the album. If it weren't for Telfer's fiddle riff in the middle and end, I'd have ignored this one altogether. After the second listen, however, I realised that this song is indeed a gem to be treasured. While it's nowhere near the poignancy of their newer material, it is a landmark of what was the Oysterband before they hit their newer sound. This is so reminsicent of their older works you might actually believe it is an old song. but it's not, and for that it deserves applause.

"20th of April" i another cover, and this time jones sings in espanol. He sounds downright sexy, too. If he wasn't british, he'd make a good galician. This song is fast, catchy, and emotional. Their version is arguably better than the original, but I'll leave that up to the individual!

"One Green Hill" should have ended this album. If it were the last song, it would have been perfect. The song is my personal favourite on the album, and it really has a melody to it. If there was a song to characterise the band in 1996-1999, this would be it.

The final two songs are "Coal Not Dole" and "Bells of Rhymney." The first is an acapella tune written by Kate Sutcliff. I personally love the tune. The second mentioned is another cover by an early 20th century poet/socialist. It's been sung by over 5 differing bands, so I generally do not care for it much. It's repetitive and drab and if it were me as the band's manager, I'd have not put it at the end [or maybe even not on the album].

The album's rating is as follows, track to track:

Hal An Tow: 10

Another Quiet Night: 10

We Could Leave: 6

Blood Wedding: 10

Oxford Girl: 8

Granite Years: 10

Rambling Irishman: 8

Love Vigilantes: 8

Polish Plain: 8

20th of April: 10

The Lost and Found: 7

One Green Hill: 10

Coal not Dole: 8

Bells of Rhymney: 6

Album as unit: 8/10

In the end, this is a great album. It's not ruined by the few shortcomings here and there and therefore is a must for all consummate celtic or folk rockers out there. If you're an Oyster fan and you don't have this, get it. It's worth every penny.