Brian Mcfadden - Irish Son - Tiscali Music Reviews

29/11/2004

Brian has done a Ronan and a Robbie and left the confines of his heavily manufactured pop group to 'branch out' and er... allow the creative juices to flow. Yeah, whatever.

By severing his ties with Irish boy band, Westlife, Brian has turned his back on the ever-so-cheesy-squeaky clean look and changed the spelling of his name (please note 'y' to an 'i'). He's also left behind his wife and his two children and adopted the stubble wearing, dirty jeans that stand up on their own, bad boy look.

Irish Son is a mish mash of Pop/Rock songs. Some are catchy; others are weaker than weak. The lyrics are on a par with doom and gloom solo artist Alanis Morissette - yawn, yawn, yawn.

It's clear that the theme running throughout the album is one of self pity. It screams self examination and touches upon every aspect of his life - his roots, his family, his estranged wife (Lose lose situation points out he can 'never win with women') and his children ('Sorry Love Daddy').

It's also a blatant public apology to Kerry who shot to fame after she was appointed Queen of the jungle in 'Celebrity get me out of here' early this year.

And yet, in the same breath, he forgives himself for leaving his wife in 'He's no Hero' claiming 'he's doing what he can'. And that's what's real to him. Real? Sorry, did someone mention strip dancers?

'Walking disaster' is a rock attempt gone wrong. The wooo's, yeah's and thrashy guitars have been done to death. We don't need to hear it again thanks.

Why on earth Delta Goodrem (a multi-award winning singer and songwriter in her own right) would want to be involved with Irish son is baffling. But then again, perhaps that's just it. He's been forced to get a talented blonde in on the act so he can persuade the critics he's lifeless and dull music is worth something.

So, has this Irish Son 'moved with the times?' We think not. As Brian sings 'wake up you might be dreaming, now.' We have to agree with him.

Kate Marshall