No stranger to the highways and byways of Europe, Canada and the US, Dubliner Eamonn Dowd is one of the great survivors of Irish rock ‘n’ roll – so old-school that he released an album on cassette just a few years back. Still occasionally performing and recording with The Racketeers, he’s been based in Sweden for the last decade or so where he regularly tours with local combo The Last Souls.
Although long-associated with respected German indie label Cannery Row, Dowd’s new solo album is released through his own Spellbound Records. Featuring 12 tracks, this rough and ready country/garage collection is so raw you can practically smell the stale fags and booze. Against a basic backing of guitar, bass, drums and the occasional harmonica, Dowd growls his songs of wandering, revenge, obsession, regret and the occasional party. On ‘When I First Came To Town’, he sounds like early period Nick Cave.
He makes a decent fist of the two covers. First popularised by Dylan mentor Dave Von Ronk, ‘Tell Old Bill’ provides the record’s most folkish moment. His memorable version of Eddie Noack’s country murder ballad ‘Psycho’ sticks in the mind like blood on a barroom floor.
As the title states, things aren’t the way they used to be. It will never trouble the charts, but this wonderfully raw album won’t let you forget the way they once were – and will definitely appeal to rockers of a certain vintage.

Key Track: 'Man From Another Time'