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Sons of Maxwell CD Review Anyone who thought that Sons of Maxwell were just a great cover band will be in for a pleasant surprise upon hearing their latest CD. Brothers Don and Dave Carroll have been delighting audiences for years but are now poised to take it to a new level. Among the Living is the first Sons of Maxwell album to be penned entirely by Dave. It is also arguably their strongest production to date. With this release, Sons of Maxwell have firmly stepped out from beneath the Celtic umbrella that people had placed them under for so long. The duo got their roots from traditional music but have really come into their own as of late. Their music is a blend of so many styles that they have become one of those bands which are almost impossible to pigeon hole. But why would anyone want to try? The songs on Among the Living vary in mood and tempo from ballads such as "Mile a Minute", "Easy Come Easy Go" and the hauntingly sad "Hold On", the touching story of an Alzheimer patient and her husband, to the comical romp "When the Circus Comes to Town", a song about the craziness of family reunions. The biggest departure from the traditional Sons of Maxwell sound is "Get It Jumpin'"", a bluesy rock tune that celebrates weekend parties. Along with fiddles and classical guitars, there are even some touches of electronic effects on this album. This CD has a little something for every music lover. For the most part, the songs sound wonderful with full arrangements. One exception would seem to be The 5:07. Having heard it live many times, the song seems to have lost some of its warmth in the recording process.

Sponsored Links: EMusic FREE Trial MP3 Subscriptions  Market your band or artist Get 100 Free 80's MP3s at EMusic Sons of Maxwell @ CanEHdian Biography Live Reviews Archived News Interactive Poll Links Online Store Newsletter J.P Cormier's fiddle adds a country slant to the song that doesn't quite seem right. That same fiddle, however, on Mrs. Stanley fits in beautifully. I've heard it said before that there's nothing like sibling harmony and the Carroll brothers only confirm this. While Dave takes the lead on the majority of songs, Don's harmonies provide a tight, solid foundation. On the odd track where Don steps to the front, his vocal talent proves that he's not just the guy with the bodhran. The Carroll brothers truly are quite a team. The Halifax-based band celebrated the release of their new CD with a show at Casino Nova Scotia's Schooner Room. The duo was backed by Reece Nearing (bass), Dave Burton (drums), Cathy Porter (keyboards, percussion, accordion) and Jon Park Wheeler (guitar). Park Wheeler produced the Son's debut effort as well as half a dozen tracks on Among the Living. The first single, "So Confusing", was sent to radio stations and is doing well. Among the Living was available in stores nationwide on June 5th. Melissa Hogan, CanEHdian.com. Copyright 2001.