Anthem for the Common Man

by

Battlefield Band

Edit

I've listened to Battlefield Band for a long time and I grew up in the 80's, so Anthem for the Common Man was one of my favorite albums at the time. There was one reviewer who commented that it was heavy in the synth department and I agree to a degree, but I have to remind everyone listening to Celtic music that you can hold them to your own standard of "musical perfection" if you like, but that doesn't mean they record music just to "appeal to the masses." Many of them do it because they like it and want to share it with those who might like it too--not exactly the same thing as appealing to the masses.

Anthem for the Common Man has several good songs on it--here, I disagree with the reviewer who says the songwriting is cheesy--and while the instrumentation isn't as strictly "trad" as your average Scots trad listener expects, the songs are decent. I've always liked Anthem for the Common Man (the song), The Old Changing Way, and the Snows of France and Holland, not to mention the Yew Tree.

Overall, I'd say put your expectations in the closet and give it a sound listen to see what you think.