Enter The Haggis — Gutter Anthems

Toronto's Enter The Haggis have progressed considerably over the years by adding more diverse elements to their core Celtic sound, and this trend continues on this seventh album. "The Litter And The Leaves" is an up-tempo rock song with lots of bagpipes to keep things fresh, while "Cameos" sounds a bit like Great Big Sea. The tin whistle from that song is also prominent on another highlight, "Suburban Plains," which also bears a hint of African high life. "DNA," "The Ghosts Of Calico" and "Sea Of Crutches," about returning home from a tour, are my other favourites.

The band's range is demonstrated in "Real Life/Alibis," which opens with just voice and acoustic guitar, and "The Death Of John Mooring," which is quite heavy but also includes fiddle and cello. There are two instrumentals, but the band are at their best when relaying true stories from the past in their lyrics.

Despite most things being in place for me to enjoy Gutter Anthems, it somehow falls short — perhaps through the production being a little too slick for a guy who likes his Celtic-based music a little frayed around the edges.

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