The new album by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards has made quite a buzz around the piping world. I was at the Dragoon Guards' museum yesterday and decided to pick up the CD. I'm listening to it now, and while it's not a bad album, it just doesn't pique my fancy. It has a lot of orchestration behind the pipes, and very little drumming. I like the military style. Lots of drums, just pure bagpipes...its what got me into piping. This album will probably sell quite well, but it just doesn't interest me all that much. It promised Amazing Grace, and it sure did deliver. "Amazing Grace" along with "Highland Cathedral" is what is going to sell this album, the rest is pretty much fluff. The track "Mull of Kintyre" has Will Marten singing, and I don't think singing goes along with bagpipes all that well. Also, they play the themes to "Dances with Wolves" and "Last of the Mohicans", which I did not expect. I think they should've picked one or the other. Although, I was was really impressed with the creativity in "Pachelbel's Canon", songs like "Sailing" and "Caledonia" were a bit too sappy with the folk guitar. The last track, "Green Hills of Tyrol" while not done entirely traditionally, is still pretty cool, although it only lasts for 1:15. I wish they either played it longer, or made it into a medley.

If anybody has heard this CD, please tell me what you think. I want to know what other people think of this album.