1) Long Life
Its a fun song and will be great for shows (fist pumps are called for)! I really like Sean's vocals and Jeen's harmonies on this one. And I really want to see Alan play that wicked sexy electric guitar solo live. Seriously, its the best part of the song! And good on Sean for kickin' off the album right!
2) Nothing But A Song
In true GBS fashion NBAS is the Folk-Pop song with the amazing bodhran, the uplifting lyrics , soaring harmonies, and catchy chorus that makes the perfect single for them. I rank it up there with Ordinary Day, Sea of No Cares, and Walk on the Moon. This song will become classic GBS in no time!
3) Yankee Sailor
The thing that struck me the most about this song were the drums. It's unexpected and it really adds a lot of flavour to the song. The whistles are great but I added them in in my head when I first heard Alan debut the song as a solo in Olympia. It was there that the power and longing of the lyrics hit me. I've loved this song since November and the recorded version doesn't disappoint!
4) Good People
Fun, catchy and a good singalong, Good People has enthralled audiences since its debut last October. The more country-ish style stretches the genre of what is typically considered "Great Big Sea music" but in a good way that allows for more such variation in the future. I think this might be their second single for the album and I'd be cool with that!
5) Dear Home Town
From the first notes it's bright and catchy. I love the harmonica and the horns rock! The lyrics are a true testament to Randy Bachman's influence as a co-writer this isn't something Alan could have written himself, its not his style, but his voice is perfect for it. I too have been singing the chorus all day, it just gets in your head like that. Well done by's! This one just might be my favorite! (And my biggest hope for their second single!)
6) Over The Hills
Love the bagpipes, love the tempo, love the song! A great choice for the traditonal song (Although I think Bob arranged it and wrote some new verses). Bob's voice sounds great on it and I kinda hope it replaces Helmethead at shows, though I don't think it will.
7) Hit The Ground And Run
This is SUTS's version of Straight To Hell and similarly and wonderfully bawdy. It will be a treat to hear live, and maybe one day we will hear Alan and Russell sing it together! In my opinion its one of their best co-writes to date, even outstripping Company of Fools! The banjo on this is killer and I love the way Alan sings it, its such a fun song, you've just gotta sing along!
8) Safe Upon The Shore
A beautiful title track and such a well done a cappella song. The harmonies are awesome and Murray's lyrics are dark and sweet and morbid and romantic all at once. Sean's voice is wonderful and I think this may be this tour's England.
9) Have A Cuppa Tea
One of two amazing covers on this album and the by's do The Kinks proud on this one! Its not one of the best songs on the album but its fun and suits the boys just fine, and its been a damn long time since Alan and Sean shared lead on a song, so that a plus right there! I hope to hear it live!
10) Wandering Ways
This song hasn't changed since it was released as a bonus track on the Walk On The Moon single album, and I don't care. I loved it then and I love it now, especially Sean's autobiographical lyrics and slightly salty vocals. Great song Seannie!
11) Follow Me Back
I have loved Jeen O'Brien's voice since I first heard it on Fortune's Favour. I love that she sings lead on this, and that Bob gets to do a duet and have more than one song on the album! The lyrics are sweet and dear and I am very sad that I will probably never get to hear this live. For one of the few mid-tempo songs on the album its very well done, simple, sweet and elegant, it almost reminds me of the Road Rage version of Captain Wedderburn with Sarah Harmer, same simple elegance. It's a beautiful song.
12) Road to Ruin
This is the best dancing song on this album! It kind of reminds me of Company of Fools or Straight to Hell as far as Alan's growly vocals, tres sexy. It feels like a pub song, I want to dance to this at O'Rielly's on George Street. Its a song that leaves you breathless and smiling your face off! The instrumentation is awesome and it all comes together to make one of the best songs on the album!
13) Gallows Pole
"If you are going to do a Led Zeppelin cover, it damn well better kick ass!" ~ Sean
Another track taken right off FF's bonus material, Gallows Pole *does* kick some serious ass. The low whistle is perfect for the instrumental melody and Sean puts so much passion into the lyrics that you cant help but love this song!
14) Don't Wanna Go Home
One of my favorite tracks on the album DWGH sounds and feels kind of like a show tune finale. (High praise coming from a musical theater nerd like me!) We haven't had horns since Penelope and now we get them twice on one album! The Big Easy seems to have had a great influence on this song in particular. The banter and clinking glasses add to the feel of the song and Alan's last words on the track "It's over!" makes me long for bonus material. I love this song so much it just may be the song I sing after every GBS show from now on. What a bittersweet ending to such a great album!
Overall I am very impressed with Safe Upon The Shore! I have even stopped loathing the album art so much. Steve Berlin did a great job producing it even with the setbacks with Sean's voice during recording. The album is balanced, emotional, evocative, and truly fabulous all around. With Fortune's Favour they promised us "All killer no filler" and fell just short of that mark. Safe Upon The Shore hits that target with flying colors and blaring horns! Truly a job well done!
After 17 years, if there's one thing Great Big Sea has promised in their albums, it's a thoroughly enjoyable collection of tunes-- Safe Upon the Shore, is no exception! The album was recorded throughout a six-month period, stretching from late 2009 to earl...y 2010. Much of it was recorded in New Orleans, and the cities' influence is definitely notable in parts of the album. It starts off with "Long Life (Where Did You Go)," a driving melody that really puts the ROCK in this folk-rock band. Then there's the wonderful "Nothing But a Song," about the band being together for so long, and the brotherhood they share. This was a wise choice on the band's part for the album's first single. Other notable songs on the album include "Good People," a pleasant little ditty sung by Mr. McCann (it's impossible to feel sad when listening to this); and the epic marching song "Over the Hills," sung by none other than Bob Hallett. This album may not be as triumphant as "Fortune's Favor," or as fresh as "Something Beautiful," but it definitely doesn't disappoint! Even after all this time, the by's can still sing with the best of 'em, and they certainly show no signs of slowing down.