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Amazon.co.uk Review
From the delicate and deceptively intricate "Be Good or Be Gone" that inaugurates Fionn Regan’s debut album, The End of History, it’s apparent that his is a talent not to be ignored. Recalling any number of folkish predecessors--Bob Dylan, Jose Gonzalez, Nick Drake--Regan’s finger-picked guitar work and warm, Damien Rice-esque vocals flow through this entire project like meandering, golden streams. Mixing winsome melodies with emotive chords and quasi-poetic lyricism, Regan straddles the classic folk sound of the 60s and the contemporary neo-folk scene with bristling aplomb. Unlike many so called ‘new folk’ heroes though, Regan keeps his approach simple, varying his songs not with electronic beats or acidic guitar squalls but light embellishments such as brooding strings (see the dark, Gonzalez-esque "Hunter's Map") and subtle backing vocals (see "Black Water Child"). Though skeletal, Regan’s songs create a dreamy, nostalgic ambience that successfully eschew cliché. Intimate and contemporary, universal and classic, The End of History is a triumphant and highly accessible first outing. --Paul Sullivan
Review
Troubadour' is fast becoming as overused a word in music as MySpace, or the phrase 'produced by Mark Ronson'. Not a day seems to go by without another singer/songwriter being thrust upon us, but - no pun intended - it's always the quiet ones you should look out for.
Released last year, The End Of History by Fionn Regan has found itself nominated for the Mercury Music Prize alongside critical darlings Klaxons and The View. 'Who' you cry? Exactly. In a crushingly predictable list, this is some achievement for an artist who has had almost zero attention. Dublin-born Regan has a warm, tender voice, but why him and not James Morrison, Paolo Nutini or any other recent balladeer?
One listen and it becomes abundantly clear. The End of History is a beautiful and beguiling record. From the Bert Jansch-like finger picking on 'The Underwood Typewriter'' to the chiming chords of 'Bunker Or Basement', this record drips with wistful lyrics and wandering melodies. Self-produced with a lightness of touch that Morrison et al would die for, the lone cello that snakes through 'Hunters Map' is understatement at its finest. Elsewhere the Dylanesque folk of 'Hey Rabbit' and the layered vocals of the title track show how acoustic-based music doesn't have to be saccharine or forgettable.
Fionn Regan is as likely to win the Mercury Music Prize as Amy Winehouse is to attend them sober. But that shouldn't stop this terrific, slow-burning record gaining the whole new fan base it deserves. --Rowan Collinson
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album after briefly catching "be good or be gone" on the radio. Little did I know then the treat that I had in store for me. This intimate, beautiful and haunting exploration grows on me with each new hearing in a way few other albums ever have. The deep poetry of the lyrics, the superb melodies and arrangements combine to create a tour de force among the new wave of folk singers. I really look forward to Fionn's next release.
I even went so far as to listen to his album on my iPod while walking through Knocksink woods! But, unfortunately, I didn't come across three men selling candles wrapped in newspaper. Good luck in the Mercurys, Fionn!
I even went so far as to listen to his album on my iPod while walking through Knocksink woods! But, unfortunately, I didn't come across three men selling candles wrapped in newspaper. Good luck in the Mercurys, Fionn!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Lately, I've become increasingly jaded by going to local acoustic nights and seeing semi-talentless people play cover versions of already terrible songs. That's almost a good analysis of the singer/songwriter genre, if we can call it that, because there are a lot of people doing the same thing. So it's nice to find someone like Fionn Regan who not only doesnt concentrate on dour love subject matter so rife with his contemporaries but combines upbeat and thoughtful lyrics with some quite exceptional guitar work.
Album opener 'Be Good Or Be Gone' almost feels like an entire lifetime of thoughts squeezed into one song, centered around gorgeous plucking and melody. Following this is 'The Underwood Typewriter', with some very impressive guitar playing, upbeat proclamations of "The roots shoot deep below the ground, I like to walk with you in the evening" topped off by a beautiful chorus accompanied by a cello. And for the most part, that tends to be the basic plan behind 'The End Of History'; great melodic folk guitar playing with modern selfless lyrics. It's more than enough to satisfy those with a penchant for acoustic troubadours, quirky songwriters or even just decent musical chops.
'The End Of History' stands out in an overpopulated genre as an album full of honesty, integrity, soul and a bit of identity, and that's only a good thing for us because there are surely good things to come from this very promising songwriter.
Album opener 'Be Good Or Be Gone' almost feels like an entire lifetime of thoughts squeezed into one song, centered around gorgeous plucking and melody. Following this is 'The Underwood Typewriter', with some very impressive guitar playing, upbeat proclamations of "The roots shoot deep below the ground, I like to walk with you in the evening" topped off by a beautiful chorus accompanied by a cello. And for the most part, that tends to be the basic plan behind 'The End Of History'; great melodic folk guitar playing with modern selfless lyrics. It's more than enough to satisfy those with a penchant for acoustic troubadours, quirky songwriters or even just decent musical chops.
'The End Of History' stands out in an overpopulated genre as an album full of honesty, integrity, soul and a bit of identity, and that's only a good thing for us because there are surely good things to come from this very promising songwriter.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
I HAVE HUNDREDS OF, MAINLY FOLK,INDIE,AMERICANA,WHATEVER ALBUMS..BUT I ALWAYS COME BACK TO THIS ALBUM AS A BENCHMARK.NOTHING HAS TOPPED THIS..I NEVER TIRE OF IT..UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER,HUNTER`S MAP,ABACUS,FOR ME,ARE TRULY MAGICAL MASTERPIECES.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Found again and just as good.
I hadn't listened to this album really since 2007, but, when a friend was fumbling through my iPod and stumbled across this, I couldn't have been happier to hear that familiar... Read more
Published 8 months ago by D. Philip R-S
Deserves far more attention
He may look like a small hobbit peeking out from under a magic toadstall in Harry Potter's back garden, but Fionn Regan is a mighty scene on the modern folk landscape. Read more
Published 23 months ago by BlueCalx
Not my cup of tea I'm afraid
This album did nothing for me, unfortunately. Fionn is an excellent guitarist but I found most of the songs not memorable at all. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2010 by haunted
Fantastic
I went to see Fionn Regan in Belfast recently and was blown away. I knew nothing about about him - a friend bought me the ticket. Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2009 by The Irish C
A drop of the soft stuff !
As you may have gathered from other reviews ,this is a pretty neat debut from the young Irish singer-songwriter. Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2007 by Arthur Dooley
BEAUTIFUL AND UTTERLY BRILLIANT
BEST ALBUM I'VE HEARD ALL YEAR, NEXT TO RADIOHEAD'S NEW ONE. BETTER THAN JOSE GONZALEZ'S NEW PLATE THAT'S FOR GOD DAMN SURE.
Published on 2 Nov 2007 by M. Collins
Was going to buy this then
I was going to buy this album and then read the previos review which said;
This CD is what Messers Dylan and Cohen would love to deliver, have tried and failed. Read more
This CD is what Messers Dylan and Cohen would love to deliver, have tried and failed. Read more
Published on 10 May 2007 by JCT
The End of History
What's it like the first time you fall in love? That feeling when you think there's an alien poking your heart from the inside, when you want to run around shouting this is it. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2007 by Mrs Hank
One of the best artists in Ireland finally gets his album released!
A lot of people have been waiting for this to come out and I've definately been one of them. Fionn Regan has had a strong following since the release of his first single way back... Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2006 by Mr. I. P. Mciver
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