Wake Me When It's Over

Album Review

Most people do something for over 30 years and wind up with a gold watch. But Tom MacKenzie ended up with music. MacKenzie has a series of solo albums to his credit, in addition to his group performances with the High Road.

The album Wake Me When It's Over is a mix of vocals and instrumentals, featuring hammer dulcimer on the upbeat medley "Emigrant's Complaint: March Thaw-Opera." "Bergrosa," a gently lilting waltz by Norway's Sven Nyhus, offers the unusual yet melodious combination of dulcimer, clarinet, and mandolin. Clarinet and dulcimer are also featured on "Bohumil," with the clarinet giving this number the traditional polka sound while the dulcimer adds a spritely touch all its own. The international theme continues with the Estonian song "Hoia, Jumal, Est It" done as an instrumental, with the old-meets-new combination of dulcimer and synth employed to good effect. MacKenzie gets out the banjo for Hangman's Reel, a lively number that's a lot more cheerful than its title. His original "Wake Me When It's Over" is a song that all parents with early waking babies can relate to, with its mellow tune and lyrics: "My energy is nearly gone, my mind went yesterday." It's a gentle protest, as he also acknowledges: "You make me smile, you make me proud, you make me lift my head and laugh." Sleep-deprived parents everywhere are nodding agreement. "For No Good Reason at All" is a tongue-in-cheek jazz number and the instrumentals are fine, but the vocals get lost on some verses at the beginning, though the chorus is catchy for singing along. Still, this is a minor caveat. So for a range of sound, from international folk to jazz to original ballads, Wake Me When It's Over is an enjoyable listen.