Album Review:

Streets of Hastings - Three Streets to The Wind


Due to be released on St. Patrick's Day (March 17, 2012), The Alt-Celtic based Streets of Hastings hailing from Ottawa, Ontario Canada  are set to unleash their debut album entitled "Three Streets to the Wind".

Having been born and raised in Ontario Canada, I had grown accustomed to the "Distinctly" Canadian Sound afforded to us by bands such as The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo and to a lesser degree Our Lady Peace. The first thing that struck me once I began listening to the album is that, I was not fitting it into that mold.

What you are presented with, is an album that pretty effectively spans multiple genres. The opening tunes seemingly have a flair for that late 60's, early 70's sounds akin to acts such as Black Sabbath, David Bowie and Iggy and The Stooges. One of my favorite tracks on this release is #4. "1812 (Proud Canadians)". It has a anthemic quality about it and a street punk style of sound. This song truly leaves me feeling proud to be a Canadian, and in fact makes me a little homesick !

The latter half of the album is washed back with a handful of drinking inspired Celtic songs, all of which I enjoyed tremendously. My absolute favorite tune on this album is #9. "Kelly Ann", this is a drinking song, a love song, a fighting song and a song, which in the most bizarre of ways captures "The Canadian Identity".

The album is capped off with "House of The Rising Sun". Originally a sixteenth-century English folk song, later made famous by the Animals. Despite having been covered entirely too many times, horribly by most, Streets of Hastings nail this!  I would half expect that Eric Burdon might even find himself rocking out to this tune as well.

The bottom line is Streets of Hastings deliver a solid album in their first offering. I would be willing to bet that one of their live shows would be an intoxicating event of beer fueled, fist pumping, crowd driven sing alongs. Should I ever get the chance, I will most certainly be there soaking it all up, or drinking it all down.

Cheers,


Phil - Host of The Grinning Beggar Celtic Music Podcast - www.grinningbeggar.com

Band Name:    Streets of Hasting
Album Name:  Three Streets to The Wind
Home Town:     Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Website:         http://www.streetsofhastings.com

Track Listing:

1. Comfort No More
2. Rupture
3. Don't Go Away
4. 1812 (Proud Canadians)
5. Faceless
6. 31 (I ain't gonna make it)
7. Red Eyes
8. Sea Bag
9. Kelly Ann
10. Drinkin' Like its free
11. Slainte
12. House of The Rising Sun