Keith Roberts - vocals, acoustic guitar
Paul O'Toole - vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonica
Randy Woolford - electric guitar
Bren Holmes - bass guitar
Jeff Dellisanti - saxophones, keyboards
Jon Mattox - drums, percussion
Chas Waltz - violin, vocals

On the band's 1994 debut EP, "Rocky Road," The Young Dubliners heralded their arrival on the international music scene with a unique sound squarely rooted in Celtic and American pop traditions. Critical acclaim and a series of soul-stirring live performances won devoted allegiance from the band's ever increasing number of fans.

Now The Dubs return to the recording fold with their first full-length album, Breathe, on Backyard/Scotti Bros. Records. Produced by Michael Vail Blum (Goo Goo Dolls, Redd Kross, Infectious Grooves), the album features nine original compositions and two updated traditional Irish tunes.

While tracks like "Shake Me Down," "Wash My Hands" and "Shame" are the most aggressive tunes the band has ever performed, they still retain the poetic, Iyrical quality The Dubs are known for Even mid-tempo tunes like "Thunder," "Mary" and "Don't You Worry," possess an alluring edginess that draws the listener in.

"It's a more focused, more immediate record," says singer- guitarist Keith Roberts. "Everything on the record can be repeated live, and that's important to us because we stake our reputation on our live show. It's also more personal. It reflects where our lives are at now."

"I'm amazed at how much we've grown," Dubs co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Paul O'Toole says in agreement "In the past it seemed everyone was coming from a different place musically, probably because there are both Irish and Americans in the band and the influences can get so mixed up. This album follows a common thread, we've found a direction and you can hear it."

"Even though most of the tunes are up-tempo, the Iyrics are actually darker," says guitarist Randy Woolford. "We all experienced some trouble in our personal lives while we were touring, and those experiences are reflected in the Iyrics."

The band's cross-country jaunt provided the inspiration for two of the album's most compelling tunes, "Wash My Hands" and "Breathe." The former opens the album and immediately draws the listener in to its tale of a man seeking respite from the demands of daily life. "Breathe" is more philosophical, at once impatient and contemplative. The tune is a curious study in contrast--the music depicts reckless abandon, while the lyric suggests the importance of solace and reflection.

"The verse speaks about the chaos of the road and the hectic pace of life in general, while the chorus is almost therapeutic," Roberts says of "Breathe." "You've got to stand back and breathe a little or you'll get buried underneath it all."

The stormy, melodious "Mary" is the converse of "Breathe." With its easy-rocking rhythm and gorgeous melody, "Mary" fuses an upbeat tempo with despairing Iyrics about a girl who is slowly unraveling.

"Thunder," sung by O'Toole, opens with brooding vocals and turbulent guitar that suddenly give way to a cathartic chorus. "It's about hope," O'Toole says. "It talks about 'thunder in the distance, rain upon my face.' It's like being washed clean, a spiritual awakening."

On "Foggy Dew," the band transforms a beloved Irish tune into a galloping cry for freedom. The song dates back to 1916, when seven Irish rebels seized Dublin's General Post Office in direct defiance of occupying British forces. The group held off the Brits for eight days before being captured, executed and subsequently martyred.

"They lost the battle but they ultimately won," says O'Toole. "They inspired everyone to keep fighting. The beautiful thing is that those seven guys were all poets and musicians. They were just kids, really--very young. That song is part of our Irish heritage."

The Dubs' stateside story begins in 1988, with Roberts and O'Toole, the two Dublin natives who form the band's nucleus. Adopting The Young Dubliners moniker, the pair initially performed in cafes and - Irish pubs in Los Angeles. The duo soon felt the need to recruit other musicians as their sound began to progress. The band as it now exists developed over a period of years, as Roberts and O'Toole found the best musicians to complement their sound. The band signed with Backyard/Scotti Bros. in 1993.

With its brash fusion of traditional and modern music sensibilities, Breathe possesses the enduring luster of a true classic. In a music world where everyone is attempting to reconcile the sounds of the past and present, The Young Dubliners have achieved that perfect balance and created an album for the ages.