Enter the Haggis - Casualties of Retail

A Haggis live show is quite an experience. It’s not just the music; it’s the whole experience, from the drive up to the concert to the party afterwards. Their musicianship is excellent, and the pop appeal of their songs is very strong, even if that doesn’t always come out on their studio recordings. They capture that on their most recent album, Casualties of Retail, in a way that they didn’t on Aerials. Aerials was great fun, and the songs are arguably better on that masterwork, but Casualties has a polished and professional feel that the previous album lacked, and that serves the band well. Enter the Haggis may be an intimate band with an incredible connection to their fans, but at the same time, they itch to get in a real studio with real funding, because that is where the talents of the band really have a chance to shine. Although, nothing can compare to being at a live Enter the Haggis show. They’re a different band live than in the studio, but both are phenomenal.

The album starts off on a high note, if a little restrained. The opening instrumental “Music Box” is good enough, but hints of better things to come. Rightly so, because two of the best moments on the disc come next, the bluegrass-inflected “Another Round,” and the hard-driving juggernaut that is “Gasoline,” which should be the album’s star single. One might think that the band has already spent its best songs in the beginning, but such is not the case. Haggis just cranks out one great song after another (“Minstrel Boy,” “Martha Stuart,” “Life for Love”), much like one of their live shows. Only “Moved Through the Fair” seems to drag a little, ceasing the momentum in a fashion which is pretty jarring.

Even then, though, the album isn’t done taking you to the heights. “To the Quick” is the ultimate party instrumental, based on the traditional Scottish tune “Sleepy Maggie.” As is fitting, though, one of the best songs is the last. “Down With the Ship” is a haunting and gorgeous ballad, complete with mournful bagpipes and a relentless bass drum line. The imagery in the lyrics is quite touching, as well. No one may have heard of them except their rabid fans who travel in packs, but this band is worthy to be bought, studied, and praised.

Prime Cuts:
Down With the Ship
Gasoline
Congress
Minstrel Boy

22 Rating: 15