While the promo information about The Real McKenzies tour them as a mix between the Sex Pistols and Scottish folk legend Robbie Burns, I just don’t happen to see this connection. Sure, if you want to call the Sex Pistols and the McKenzies related because they both play a fast style of music, sure. However, I would say that as a whole, The Real McKenzies have a sound that draws more heavily from the rockabilly and the synth-pop movement of the 1980s, spend up by a factor of three or four. Not quite traditional enough to be closely related to the Chieftains or Great Big Sea, nor punky enough to compete with the Dropkick Murphies or Flogging Molly, The Real McKenzies fill a definite middle ground that ensures that no one will find them to their dislike. Some tracks, especially those compositions that were only musically edited by The Real McKenzies, such as “Ye Banks and Braes”, and “Heather Bells”, really provide strong steps for the success of the album, but tracks like “Oot & About” and “Get Lost” really are formulaic. All and all, this disc has a much different feel than I would have pegged to The Real McKenzies, but I was only familiar with Scots Wae Hae (off of Clash of the Tartans).
Rating : 6.8/10
The Real McKenzies – Oot & Aboot
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
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