Brian McFadden - Irish Son

First solo album from the ex-member of Westlife! Includes the 1st single 'Real To Me' and 'Almost Here' (duet with Delta Goodrem). Sony. 2004. Album Description

Stunning, Personal Debut

Like many Americans, I had never heard of Westlife. It wasn't until I was living in Northern Ireland that I first learned of the band, and it was during the fall of 2004 that I first began to hear about former member Brian McFadden. His personal life was all over the papers, speculations and scandals, and I was quite surprised to find out that one of the songs that I enjoyed listening to on the radio, 'Real to Me', was, in fact, his. Despite all of the media attention surrounding the Dubliner, this is one artist who can write - and sing!

Released as McFadden's debut solo album, "Irish Son" is deeply personal, drawing on the artist's life. Most of the songs deal with fame, heartbreak, and trying to make sense of reality, and while some of the actual melodies are quite similar to each other (hence the 4-star rating), all of them are easy on the ears. 'Real to Me' is a song about the double life that celebrities tend to lead ('No one knows me but they know my name/That's not real to me'), while 'Lose Lose Situation' is a catchy tune about marital fights. Marriage is a theme that runs rampant through the album - or, rather, the dissolution of one. Hit 'Almost Here', a duet with Aussie Delta Goodrem, and 'Sorry Love Daddy' speak candidly about divorce, capturing the pain and suffering that occurs during such an event.

There is one song that, while joyful sounding, can be a bit offensive to some. Title track 'Irish Son' speaks about the frustrations that many of Ireland's natives feel with the Catholic Church. Lines like 'Go hit me now/That I'm twice your size/We brushed off the accusations/And bowed before your lies' are quite blunt, and while McFadden's lyrics may be reality for some, they are offensive to others.

Overall, "Irish Son" is a stunning, personal debut album that, despite being a hit in the rest of the world, was never given a chance here in the U.S. However, it is a treat for the ears of any listener - from anywhere. October 5, 2008

Good,Very good,But Not Great

Brian McFadden was a key member of the Irish boyband Westlife and in his songs in this,his first album as a solo artist,we catch glimpses of the influence and style of the hugely sucessful group. Brian,as you may recall,actually broke away from the band to spend more time with his wife but within two months of his departure from Westlife, Brian McFadden released his first solo single "Real to Me", one of the few genuinely great songs in this CD.

"Real to Me" is a fantastic single with a melodious music complementing the powerful lyrics. Another track that exhibits the array of talent of this Irishman is "Irish Son"---composed on a patriotic theme that fires up the sense of nationalism, this title-track is a great way to start the CD. "He's No Hero" and " Sorry Love Daddy" invoke a softer kind of music with an air of melancholy about them. Actually I feel that Brian McFadden's voice is suited to such types of songs and not to fast and loud music as in " Lose Lose Situation" and "Pull Myself Away", which in my opinion, sound wan and emotionless. "Demons", "Be True To Your Woman", "Walking Disaster" and " Walking Into Walls" are good songs but somehow fail to capture our heart and eventually passed by leaving an expression of a mere shallow depth of enjoyment. The best song in "Irish Son" in my judgement is "Almost Here", a great duet by two amazing vocalists. Delta Gudrem and Brian McFadden compilment each other exquisitely in this track and as the music moves from a soft to a mid-tempo rhythm and the lyrics become more and more touching, you are invariably led to accept and imbibe the profound emotion and sentimentality of this song.

Robbie Williams, Ronan Keating and Justin Timberlake all broke away from their respective groups and launched massively successful solo careers. Brian McFadden too has endeavoured to acomplish just that and has produced a mixed bag in his maiden album "Irish Son". But he has got more to do if he wants to be a real heavyweight in the arena of Pop solo artist since as more time elapses, people will tend to associate him less and less with Westlife and then Brian has to create and sustain and individual identity bereft of past glories. Brian McFadden has the talent, the voice and the intensity to establish himself as a great male solo vocalist but for that he would've to pay attentiion to what types of music he creates and the sensibitity of his songs. I feel that his voice doesn't allow him to make all and any kinda of music and the Irishman must stick to this limitation and not try something that goes beyond, not atleast in the next two CDs. May 2, 2006

I love this Disk

It has been a long time since I have heard a CD of substance. There are so many artists out there today who only sing the praises of using and demeaning woman, and this is not one of them. This is a CD that tells how life really is, and it is down to earth, and just plain good. One of the best cd's I have heard in a long time. March 6, 2006

The first CD I have loved in Y ears

I was living in the UK when the album was released, a year ago. I Loved the couple of songs I had heard on the radio, and when I moved back to the states, I found myself longing to hear them again. I purchased the CD, and to my surprise, I liked every song on it. I have owned this CD for 7-8 months now, and can honestly say that not a day goes by that I don't listen to it.

I found this CD to be refreshing. It is much better than most of the music released these days, and much better than what is being released in the UK. If you want to hear nothing but remakes the UK is the place to go.

March 2, 2006

Proves he doesn't need Westlife

At first, I'll admit, I was really upset when Brian McFadden decided to leave the band (for more than the reason he had given in the press release). However, I had always anticipated his CD, and when it did come out, I rushed to get it. It was simply amazing.

The straight-forward lyrics and honesty sound so natural when put into those fabulous tunes. He really does have a knack for songwriting, already proven in a few Westlife tracks beforehand.

"Sorry Love Daddy" reduced me to tears when I first heard it without knowing the context. It is plain, honest, filled with guilt for what he had done and leaving his two daughters like he did. "Be True to Your Woman" is an apology in disguise, written to his ex-wife Kerry Kantona. Again, touching, with thoughtful lyrics.

The duet with Delta Goodrem ("Almost Here") is one of the very best duets ever sung in recent music history. It's not fancy, it's not complicated, it's not filled with amazing chords and high notes. It's the opposite: It's simple, sophisticated, and most importantly, so easy to listen to. It's so soothing just to hear their voices. Brian and the producers are extra thoughtful to lower the background music when it's Delta's turn to sing, knowing that her voice is much softer than Brian's. This creates a dramatic contrast between them, suiting how the song develops.

All other songs are very soothing and pleasing, but nothing too special to mention. But I'm sure, if you liked Brian McFadden as a person, as a member of Westlife or his voice, then you won't be disappointed by this. February 8, 2006

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