Carbon Leaf, which formed in 1992, has been infusing its indie rock with Celtic folk for so long that by this 2013 album those roots surfaced, buckling the ground that once contained them. The sprightly played tin whistle in the opening “Bloody Good Bar Fight Song” brings to mind a peaceful panorama of Ireland’s sprawling emerald landscapes. But that's nicely balanced with lyrics that goad the song’s protagonist into a bout of fisticuffs at the neighborhood tavern. When vocalist Barry Privett nonchalantly sings “Just a few broken bones/And the teeth begin to fly,” it’s easy to envision the smashing of pint glasses. Electric guitars match rootsy fiddles and Uillean pipes in the following standout, “The Donnybrook Affair,” which plays a little like a Flogging Molly song (sans punk foundation). With dynamically layered rootsy instrumentation and whimsical tin whistle notes taking the place of lead vocals, it’s understandable why the buoyant instrumental jam “Ghost Dragon Attacks Castle” was chosen for title-track status.
Other Versions
- 14 Songs
- 2004
- 2001
- 2020
- The Young Dubliners
- Enter the Haggis
- The Pogues
- The Goo Goo Dolls
- The Elders
- Scythian
- Great Big Sea