Celtic MP3s Music MagazineThe Celtic MP3s Music Magazine is a free monthly Celtic music magazine featuring free music downloads of Celtic, Scottish, Irish music from around the world. Here, you will find free music downloads from independent Celtic artists. Some MP3s are time sensitive. So download them now. All of the latest MP3s are available for at least a month. As always, if enjoy the music, please help the artist out and buy their CD. Serving Celtic music fans since 2000! Don't just download. Catherine's Pick of the TOP 10 CELTIC CDs of 2005 by Catherine L. Tully
Can't go wrong when the pipes are good! Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, February 01, 2006. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "One Spot On Earth" by Heidi, Stef & Bow Triplets
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Heidi, Stef & Bow Triplets Album: "One Spot on Earth" Year produced: 2002 Those familiar with the Irish fiddle will recognize the name of this band as something as unique as the musical style itself. Bowed triplets is a term for the three short, quick strokes on the fiddle that add pulse and flavor to the music. The name of the band is almost a little misleading however, as their sound flows throughout the CD, running the range from jigs and reels to more contemporary sounds.  Track 6, Cock Of The North, has some truly beautiful harmonies. The voices blend seamlessly with the instruments at moments, giving the song a truly neat sound. Overall, there is a nice mix of slow and fast tunes on this CD. The Bow Triplets aren't afraid to do their own interpretations of favorites such as Lord of The Dance, using those smooth harmonies and their musicianship to bring their own feel to the tune.Not all of the tracks use voice. Some choose to let the music stand alone, and although pleasant, truly I preferred the vocal songs. The band players are expert, but the harmonies are really what sets Bow Triplets apart more than anything else since it is done easily, and well. All in all this CD was a good listen, and with 16 tracks, there is plenty to keep the listener happy! Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, December 29, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers" by The Dubliners' Tabby Cats
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Marc Gunn & The Dubliners' Tabby Cats Album: "Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers" Year produced: 2006 MEOW! If you love kitties (and who doesn't?!) grab a pint of milk and check out this CD! Bard Marc Gunn spins a yarn or two in the style of the Irish traditional songs . . . with a twist. The best part is, the CD isn't just fun, the music is good too. Gunn's voice is terrific which is all the better, after all, you can't tackle this idea without a good sense of humour and more than a pinch of talent.  Gunn co-founded the Brobdingnagian Bards, and brings his talent and wit to this CD which includes favorites such as When Kitty Eyes are Smiling and Furagone's Wake. Anyone who has ever lived with a cat can appreciate the amusing lyrics of track 10, The Demented Cat Game where Gunn laments, my home is too small for the cat tyranny! Track 11, Black Kitty Paw is another good story for cat lovers, but I won't give much more away . . . you'll have to get it and see for yourself!If you know a cat lover, this may well be the best gift you can get for them, and they don't even have to be Irish to appreciate the songs. There is a certain understanding between people and their cats and it is brought forth here in all of its glory . . . the good, the bad and the hilarious! Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, December 29, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Piping Hot" by MacTalla Mo'r
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: MacTalla Mo'r Album: "Piping Hot" Year produced: 2005 This CD is truly something different! You can't pin the music down to simple Celtic, but that is part of the beauty of it, there is really a fusion of styles here, and it flows. You'll hear a big band, almost stage musical style in some songs, while others echo jazz, blues or rock, but always with that Celtic flavor. A variety of spices for the stew!  You'll hear both Scottish and Irish influence as well, and sometimes the songs are even fairly traditional in sound. If you like the bagpipes, this CD is a MUST, as they are used frequently, and quite well in the musical arrangements. Much of the music can really be described as quite danceable, and not necessarily in the traditional sense, but more mainstream.For those who like Celtic music but are looking for something to challenge their ear, this CD is the perfect choice. People who like jazz will most likely enjoy this CD, as the rhythms are more complex than is typical in most Celtic music. The fusion of many different styles give Piping Hot a flavor all its own, and one that can be appreciated by a variety of listeners. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, December 28, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Days of Abundance" by The Barley Boys
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: The Barley Boys Album: "The Days of Abundance" Year produced: 2005 The one thing that you will notice about The Barley Boys is that they have a lot of energy, and they bring it to their music. The Days of Abundance is a combination of traditional Celtic sounds and more contemporary music, and the musicianship is quite good. Sometimes, such as track 4, Life Divine, the song highlights the music and just goes with it for a bit, rather than trying too hard to be a sing along type of tune. It is nice.  I hate to pick favorites, but I can't help but tell you that Raggle Taggle Gypsy was such a high energy song that the five minutes it played was much too short and I had to play it again. It was one of the best songs I have heard in a while. The complexity of much of the music on this CD makes it exciting to listen to.You really get the sense that these guys are all about the music, but they aren't afraid to have a bit of fun either. Track 9, Scolding Wife is a good, easy romp which is done well and brings a smile. There really is a nice mix to this compilation of songs, and the energy continues throughout until the very last song, which is the only one that is a fairly slow tune. A simple wrap-up to a great album. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Sunday, November 20, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Into Jerusalem" by Raymond McCullough
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Raymond McCullough Album: Into Jerusalem Year produced: 2005 This is a truly different CD than you might expect for one with Celtic music on it. If you put it on and listen without expectations you should walk away quite happy! You'll find Scottish and Irish music, bluegrass, rock and Jewish/Israeli worship music, all carrying a spiritual message. The music is uplifting, and the mixture of styles is interesting. Don't miss the first track, I Will Lift My Eyes Up, which leaves you feeling really good with it's Celtic sound and spiritual message.  The Celtic songs worked better for me than the rock-style ones, but the lyrics overall carry a positive feeling throughout the CD which is actually a nice change from the standard fare. The Jewish/Israeli worship songs worked well too. Even though they had a totally different feel, they weren't such a stretch that those who like the other tracks would want to pass on them.The spiritual messages throughout this CD were really what tied it all together. Don't expect your typical Celtic-style album and you will be pleased with the variety offered here. A good choice for those who would like a little bit of a lift and something different. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, November 10, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Son of a Dunigan" by Michael DeAngelis
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Michael DeAngelis Album: Son of a Dunigan Year produced: 2005 The ease with which this group of people play and sing together is what makes this such a good CD. Songs like Bartender Billy have such a smooth feel to them that you'll want to grab a pint and kick back in a comfy chair to catch the rest. There are a bunch of different musicians involved here, and the lyrics are good to boot. Most of the songs are written by DeAngelis, and he proves himself talented at doing so.  The CD isn't the thumping, pulsing traditional fare. Nor is it the pining, yearning fiddle you may figure is ever-present. You'll find other musical influences here, a little folk, a touch of rock and a hint of bluegrass. Through it all, however, you'll hear Celtic, although perhaps a little more mellow than you might be used to. It is a nice change and not so relaxing that you'll be yawning, just a bit contemplative. You get the feeling that these guys (and gals!) aren't worried about fitting in anywhere, they just want to play and have a good time. The genuineness of that feeling shines through, and it you can hear it. A nice listen all the way around.Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, September 22, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Samhain" by StoneRing
by J. Wallace
Artist: StoneRing Album: Samhain Year produced: 2005 Make room in the CD changer for more great Celtic sounds, especially when StoneRing's Beth Johnson is at the mic. She shares singing duties with Charlie Johnson and Bill Rients, but the group is at their best when Johnson carries the tune. There's a good mix of tempos, from the somber title track to the carefree fun rendition of Beer, Beer, Beer. Johnson really shines on God Bless England and The Winding Stone Path.  Samhain throws in a great curve ball on the second track. Morrison's Set is a surprise, a beautiful Celtic reworking of The Doors classic People Are Strange. Excellent fiddle playing and flute work make this a treat. It would be easy to lose the musical plot on a cover of such a well-known song, but the original melancholy of the Doors version shines through here even as the reworked version gets a bit playful. The group does Jim Morrison and company justice, and without shamelessly imitating the original.The closing track gives Beth Johnson one last chance at the mic, but it's really an acapella group effort. The voices blend well on Sorrows Away; this is a group that doesn't seem to have any weaknesses at all. Going acapella is a risky venture for groups that don't have voices up to the challenge, but StoneRing more than makes the grade. The only real complaint? There isn't enough Beth Johnson. Her voice is especially suited for Celtic music, and while the male singers more than hold their own, Johnson brings an element of calm and control, a good contrast to the more freewheeling approach during the drinking tunes and rebellious songs. StoneRing is quite busy these, doing many live sets, traveling all over the Midwest from their hometown in Madison, Wisconsin. Don't miss the chance to see this group perform. If you're lucky, maybe they'll trot out an extended version of Morrison's Set. Celtic MP3 Music Magazine writer Joe Wallace reviews music for many publications and writes both nonfiction as well as short stories. His nonfiction work includes articles for Korean Quarterly, Indie-Music.com, the Alternative Culture Guide, and Factsheet Five. Contact him through his website at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, September 20, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Health to the Compay" by 3 Pints Gone
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: 3 Pints Gone Album: Heath to the Company Year produced: 2004 Most songs on this CD can be described with one simple word; fun! 3 Pints Gone performs often at Celtic fairs and Renaissance festivals, and you can totally picture their music flowing easily in that type of environment. I am partial to Kathleen Masino's rich voice on Wild Mountain Thyme, it really is a nice rendition.  Much of the rest of the music is just plain ol' good listening stuff. If you are feeling like some easy, peppy tunes, much of this album is geared that way. Fun, silly stories, typical Celtic fare, is aplenty here. Health to the Company, the CDs title track is a good tune, and The Minstrel Boy has some nice harmonies throughout.There is just enough softness to this CD, including the final Irish Blessing, to keep it from being too much folly, and you won't find any experimental music here. For those who are just looking for a good story or two and a nice listen, Health to The Company is a good pick. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, September 20, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Harp and Shamrock" by Cady Finlayson
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Cady Finlayson Album: "Harp and Shamrock" Year produced: 2004 After hearing Cady Finlayson's gorgeous fiddle-playing on the CD Take Two (with Sean McCabe) my expectations for Harp and Shamrock were high, and I was not disappointed. Cady's latest effort is terrific and I found my only disappointment was that the CD had to end!  With a good mix of music, Cady's band is every bit as skilled as she is. You'll hear everything from hornpipe music to a waltz to a song called Going to Milwaukee which is a fun, easy listen. Don't miss the title track, Harp and Shamrock/Crock of Gold for a funky, unique musical arrangement that still somehow manages to have a traditional thread running through it.There is enough going on in this CD to keep things interesting without too much of a departure from the good stuff that people expect in a Celtic album. You'll hear the reels and jigs, but this is not background music. Save it for a day that you can listen to it uninterrupted so you can enjoy it fully. It is just that good. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, August 23, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Road to Santiago" by Heather Dale
by J. Wallace
Artist: Heather Dale Album: "The Road to Santiago" Year produced: 2005 Canadian Heather Dale's fifth release is an excellent find. The Road to Santiago finds her in top form, with confident and often sassy vocals. The album has some fine Celtic textures including good double fiddle on The Greyhound, and just the right amount of guitar on the nearly a capella Holly, Ivy and Yew.  Heather Dale has been compared to Loreena McKennitt and Sarah McLachlan, but her interest in Arthurian legends and Native American imagery gives the music an added dimension that's a joy to discover. The Road To Santiago has its roots set firmly in Gaeldom, but there are many influences at work including a taste of piano blues on Confession, and on Sedna, there's a hint of Australian aboriginal sounds that would fall flat in lesser hands. On this CD it works quite well.Medusa is one of the best songs on the CD, and probably one with a good deal of commercial potential. Heather Dale puts herself on par with Tori Amos here-no easy feat-but this song rises to its own category. The energy running through Medusa is worth the price of the entire album. Dale is getting some much-deserved attention. Her tours have extended beyond Canada into the UK and America, and the singer's popularity is growing fast. After hearing The Road To Santiago, it's easy to understand. Her confidence and skill behind the microphone make it easy to forget you're listening to a studio album instead of a live performance. This could be one of the best Celtic-influenced CDs of the year. Celtic MP3 Music Magazine writer Joe Wallace reviews music for many publications and writes both nonfiction as well as short stories. His nonfiction work includes articles for Korean Quarterly, Indie-Music.com, the Alternative Culture Guide, and Factsheet Five. Contact him through his website at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, August 23, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Highland Fling" by Highland Fling
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Highland Fling Album: "Highland Fling" Year produced: 2005 Simple, pleasant Celtic music combining the sound of the harp, fiddle and hammered dulcimer, this is a lovely CD. Susan Kidney's fiddle playing meshes beautifully with the harp music of Donna Germano. There is a mix of traditional Scottish tunes and new music here, so everyone should be pleased.  The music on the CD spans all tempos, with selections arranged well to compliment each other. The range of sounds that both artists can elicit from their instruments shows their expertise and makes the music a pleasure to sit back and listen to. Don't miss the sweet sounds of track 5, Graveyard Fields or Hector the Hero, track 9 which has spoken lyrics in addition to the music; a nice listen.This album is one to sit back and enjoy. Lament for the Mountains was my favorite track, and is an original of Susan Kidney's. There are 13 tracks with a wide range of sound for only a few instruments! This is a pairing of talent that is something worth listening to. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, August 10, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The High Road" by Cluan
by Joe Wallace
Artist: Cluan Album: The High Road Year produced: 2004 Cluan mix up reels, jigs and songs to good effect on The High Road. The Texas sextet's fifty-minute studio album lives up to its name with plenty of high quality sounds from Ireland and beyond. Singer Erin Bobruk adds just the right touch of emotion on the opening jilted-lover song The Blacksmith. More impressively, Bobruk handles the tongue-twisting Bímse Féin ag lascaireacht with considerable skill and grace.  Cluan stick with what some call the all-natural sound; they don't try to spruce up the mix with electrified sounds, heavy echo or other studio tricks. The acoustic guitar, bouzouki, and two fiddles are expertly recorded; The High Road has a spontaneous quality difficult to capture on a studio album.It's obvious the band put much thought into the flow of this release as a long-play experience. With plenty of variety from track to track, the music ebbs and flows from the mellow Green Grows The Laurel to the spirited jigs of The Butlers of Glen Avenue. The finale, Aly's Waltz, rounds out the album well, its easygoing tempo a nice contrast to the energetic Skidoo, Johnny Allen's, and Farewell To Whisky. For a group only in existence for a few years, the group already has an impressive selection of quality work. Cluan have three releases under their belts now, the six-song The Buck Stops Here, and the longer-playing Night Out. After getting a taste of The High Road, the other two titles are very tempting. Sadly, The Buck Stops Here is unavailable, but Night Out is still in print, featuring the same skilled guitar and good fiddle playing that's found on The High Road. Celtic MP3 Music Magazine writer Joe Wallace reviews music for many publications and writes both nonfiction as well as short stories. His nonfiction work includes articles for Korean Quarterly, Indie-Music.com, the Alternative Culture Guide, and Factsheet Five. Contact him through his website at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, July 26, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Storming Heaven" by Avalon Rising
by J. Wallace
Artist: Avalon Rising Album: "Storming Heaven" Year produced: 2004 Avalon Rising has quite a track record. Twelve years in the Bay Area and on stages throughout the Pacific Northwest has honed the skills of this Celtic/Medieval rock group to a high degree. Fans of the Avalon Rising's blend of traditional, slightly psychedelic and Mid-Eastern influences will be quite pleased with Storming Heaven. It gets off to a rousing start with The Hexamshire Lass, and Hunt The Blarney Cat. There are good old-fashioned sounds on The Lark In The Morning, but this is far from a traditionalist release. The song Jack Daw is a progressive rock ballad some are comparing to Jethro Tull, and the band shows off their a capella talent on Health To The Company, which closes out the CD.  It's not an easy feat to pull off such a wide range of diverse sounds and influences while keeping a heavy Celtic flavor, but Avalon Rising is up to the job. The band scores points with 'old school' Irish music lovers with the pagan overtones their music, and makes the grade with fans of skilled guitar playing. Some will pick up this album out of sheer curiosity-how can a band manage hints of the Middle East, psychadelia and, on Musical Pesto Set, a hint of the Red Hot Chili Peppers while still uncompromisingly Celt? Avalon Rising is a group giving big headaches to music store employees who can’t quite find a category for this progressive/traditional band.Celtic MP3 Music Magazine writer Joe Wallace reviews music for many publications and writes both nonfiction as well as short stories. His nonfiction work includes articles for Korean Quarterly, Indie-Music.com, the Alternative Culture Guide, and Factsheet Five. Contact him through his website at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, July 21, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Far From Home" by Hugh Morrison & Friends
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Hugh Morrison Album: "Far From Home" Year produced: 2005 Fans of the three-row button accordion are in for a treat with Hugh Morrison's newest release, Far From Home. The expert playing on the album is coupled with his love for old favorites such as the Siege of Ennis. For those that don't like to sit back and listen there is more dance music as well. Morrison stretches out a bit though--including a reel and a jig but expanding the range with a march and a waltz. Plenty of stuff to get those so inclined on the dance floor.  Most of the album is instrumental and it is all well-played. There are however, a couple of tracks that feature his smooth, mellow voice and some subtle harmonies. Track two, my favorite of the whole CD, Wild Mountain Thyme is one of these.This is bright, happy music and it is impossible to feel badly with it humming away for you. You can see that Morrison is influenced by a variety of Celtic sources, and the ear detects hints of both Scottish and Irish sounds throughout the album. A nice mix of music, Hugh Morrison's CD will make a good addition to any traditional enthusiast's collection. And listening to it will always make you feel good. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, July 21, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Roguetrip" by The Rogues
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: The Rogues Album: Roguetrip Year produced: 2005 Track 1 on the latest effort from Celtic band The Rogues lit me up right off the bat, a powerful sound that is at once traditional and progressive and one that gets you excited to hear more. The second track, The Warrior's Salute, has the proper amount of ceremony in the music to carry the title. The meaning in that is personal, and the pipes are played in tribute to the band's friend Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson who they lost in 2004.  Ronds is traditional dance music, with the slow beginning designed to give the dancers time to get into position. The Binou Braz (Highland Pipes) and Bombarde (feral oboe) lend a sound to the song which is different than the ones before it.The sound changes yet again in track 4, When Diana Fell, the only track with lyrics on this CD. This song has almost a pop music feel to it, with vocal harmonies and easy melody--far simpler than the complex playing on the tracks before and after it. Back to the Faire, track 5 gets back to the traditional feel, which continues pleasantly through more dance music on track 6, An Dro (The Turn). Get set for some more expert pipe playing on track 7, Bagpipes on Bourbon Street, which plays with different rhythms and succeeds in keeping interest with the addition of the drums halfway through the song which keeps the momentum going. Track 8, Conception is completely different, and has an almost funky feel to it. A modern style of playing which is fun and groovy all at the same time, totally different than anything else on the CD. Then off to track 9 which is a free wheeling ride through different rhythms and time signatures. From one to the next, again it keeps things moving and interesting for the listener. With track 10, Marren's Jig, it's back to the basics, simple jig music written to practice hard shoe dancing to--and you'll hear it in the music too. More dance music follows with a hornpipe named after famous Highland dancer, Bobby Cuthbertson, which starts off with the slow whine and picks up to the poppy, energetic pace that switches to a lively jig to finish. The final track on this CD is a gorgeous end to it all. A deep, soulful flute coos out quietly, finishing off the album. Sometimes the fun is in knowing what is coming next, and sometimes it is in the surprise. With the Rogues, you'll not know what you are going to get, but you know it will be fine, fine music indeed. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Monday, July 18, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "From the Ashes" by Sarah Dinan
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Sarah Dinan Album: From the Ashes Year produced: 2004 There is nothing like a deep woman's voice--especially when they are singing Celtic music. Sarah Dinan's purrs through many of the selections on From the Ashes, sometimes soothing, sometimes haunting, but always beautiful. The first track on the album, however, has Dinan singing in a chirpy, birdlike way. She can do this too, but you would never believe that she is an alto. She reveals this in the second track, which is accompanied by her band members. Track three, May Morning Dew finds Dinan going solo, sans music, which I always love and this time is no exception. She holds her own, and held my attention as well. I relished it, not knowing that there was more of this to come.  Track four is playful, and she uses her voice almost as if it were an instrument itself. It is followed by Black is the Colour, which is a soft, dreamy tune which highlights Dinan's range and vocal skill. She shows that she can demonstrate her talent without beating you over the head with it. It whispers to you.The next track, When You and I Were True, perks up a bit and has a nice, smooth feel to it, just as track eight, An Paistin Fionn. But the real star of the album is sandwiched in-between these two songs. The Hero's Return (The Belfast Song) has only voice, although this time it is in harmony, and its tone is serious, not dreamy. It takes a lot to bring a tear to my eye musically, but this song did just that. Track nine, She Moved Through the Fair was just plain fun and it was one of those tunes that you keep with you for a while. Starts out slow and builds up momentum as it goes--leaving you waiting for what is next. The album closes with Flower of Magherally 'O (Radio Edit) which finishes things off nicely. I must say, it is a compilation of songs that is well worth a listen. If you are a fan of a strong, deep, Celtic voice, this album is for you. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, July 07, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Posing As Human" by RISE
by Joe Wallace
Artist: Rise Album: Posing As Human Year produced: 2004 Many bands pass themselves off as eclectic; few truly pull it off well. Rise is one of those rare groups that show talent in a diverse array of musical idioms. The Scottish foursome's second album, "Posing As Human," begins with a strong cocktail of Dylan and The Sundays-influenced sounds. Singer Debbie Dawson's voice has a vulnerable quality perfect on songs like "Don't Stop the World" and "I Will Love You Always". The multi-talented Gerry Geoghegan's twelve-string guitar playing is both free-wheeling and precise; "The Gallows" highlights his skill with perfect timing with complex start-and-stop playing.  Slide guitar fans will appreciate the bluesy "Welcome To The Real World", and Debbie Dawson's voice works particularly well, especially when the song changes from the minimal blues riff to a fuller rock sound. Geoghegan takes a turn on the mic on some tracks. "I Will See My Love Again" and "Green Grow the Rashes-o" find him in good voice, especially on the harmonies. Geoghegan sounds very much like a peer of Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham; he is every bit as diverse and skilled with his song arrangements as the ‘Mac guitarist.There is a traditional influence on this CD, but ‘eclectic' is the word of the day. Celtic purists may be a bit disappointed, but those who like a combination of blues, folk and rock should spend some time with this new release. On the technical side it's a well-produced effort with the singing and guitars expertly mixed-every note is clear and strong. There's some beautifully restrained keyboard work going on in the background, giving some songs an ethereal quality while others get a slight gospel flavor. Second albums are often difficult for any band, but Rise doesn't show any signs of what music biz people call the "sophomore slump". The group does well in capturing its essence on CD, but after an extended listen to "Posing" you'll find yourself wanting a live performance to catch Rise at its full power. A live CD would be most welcome; in the meantime, "Posing As Human" is one to put in the changer on ‘repeat'. Celtic MP3 Music Magazine writer Joe Wallace reviews music for many publications and writes both nonfiction as well as short stories. His nonfiction work includes articles for Korean Quarterly, Indie-Music.com, the Alternative Culture Guide, and Factsheet Five. Contact him through his website at www.freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, June 16, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Take Two" by Sean McCabe and Cady Finlayson
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Sean McCabe and Cady Finlayson Album: Take Two Year produced: 2000 With the pairing of Cady Finlayson on the fiddle and Sean McCabe's smooth voice--how can you go wrong? This 16-track CD is packed with expert playing, traditional sounding tracks and a little experimentation here and there to boot. In other words, there is a little something for everyone.  If you are a traditionalist, waste no time--go for track four--"Rising of the Moon." It gives you that good, familiar feeling, like relatives are in the living room singing old songs. For those who get their toes tapping with Irish Step Dance music, there is a jig, a reel and a hornpipe in store as well.If you are in need of a pick-me-up, try track nine--"Nobody Wants to Know You When You're Broke." It will pretty much guarantee a smile on a rough day. Most of the songs have the upbeat style of Irish music--even when they speak of sadness. The first track, "Northerners" which talks about the difficulties in Ireland and leaving the country is still a terrific listen and doesn't leave you feeling glum. Cady Finlayson's skill is obvious, and the CD does highlight it. The fiddle playing in track 12 struck that lovely yearning that only truly skilled players can make you feel. It will leave you with a lump in your throat. At times she is in a supporting role to McCabe's voice, but many of the tracks let her shine as well. Track 15, "Take These Blues Away" is the prayer of a widow, and does a nice job of marrying the two artists together in sound. It is also McCabe's strongest "storytelling" style-song. The entire CD does a good job of mixing it up so that you are never sure what to expect next, although you are assured an interesting ride, regardless. All in all this mixture of contemporary Celtic folk and traditional-style music works. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at ctully@freelance-zone.com. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, June 15, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Kilkelly" by Moloney, O'Connell & Keane
by Phil Hall
Artist: Moloney, O'Connell & Keane Album: Kilkelly Year produced: 1988 The main reason to seek out this recording from the short-lived trio of Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell and Jimmy Keane is the title song. Written by Peter Jones, it follows a series of letters from a father in Eire and his son in America. The father's struggle to survive in the midst of famine and poverty are truly heartbreaking, and the distance (both geographic and emotional) between parent and child results in a shattering climax. This is easily one of the most compelling compositions in modern Celtic music, and it is impossible not to come away from it without sore tear ducts.  Beyond "Kilkelly," however, is a fairly strange and often lopsided recording. Another song, "Peter Pan and Me," details the loss of innocence during the seemingly endless troubles, but unlike "Kilkelly" it comes across as trite and mechanical rather. Two straightforward instrumentals, combining reels and jigs, are okay but not particularly memorable.But then there is the epic offering called "The Green Fields of America." Billed as an "operetta," this lengthy but excessively weird piece attempts to trace the experience of the Irish in America through various reels, dances, jigs, folk songs and ditties. It is not so much an operetta as it is a musical Mulligan's stew tossing in bits and pieces of "The Sailor's Hornpipe," "No Irish Need Apply," "The Night That Paddy Murphy Died" and even "The Notre Dame Fight Song" plus the Bing Crosby novelty tune "Two Shillelagh O'Sullivan." It is a mess, to be certain, and often it seems as if the Irish-American odyssey was a mix of treacly melodrama and bad vaudeville. Moloney, O'Connell & Keane only recorded another album before disbanding. It would seem the brilliance of "Kilkelly" was something of a fluke, albeit an extraordinary fluke. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Monday, May 09, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Well Tempered Bow" by Liz & Yvonne Kane
by Michelle Osborne
Artist: Liz & Yvonne Kane Album: "The Well Tempered Bow" Year produced: 2002 I had seen this album in my local Borders for many months before it was brought up in traditional folk music community. Someone recommended it and when I was looking to pick up a few new albums, this was one of the four I walked out of the store with. I was more than pleasantly surprised at this album (especially considering the classically-oriented title), I was completely amazed at the maturity and brilliance of these young women's playing.  Liz and Yvonne, who hail from the Connemara area on the west coast of Ireland, got their start through their grandfather, Jimmy Mullen (a leading figure in traditional music) and their teacher, Mary Finn McCrudden. Liz, who was into the competition scene, won several awards, including the prestigious All-Ireland senior fiddle title. The sisters have toured with Sharon Shannon and on their own, been guest artists on a number of albums, and have released two albums of their own playing.The Well Tempered Bow was the Kane sisters' first album. Filled with their brilliant unison South Sligo playing (heavily influenced by fiddle great, Paddy Fahey), every track on this album is beautiful and expertly executed, which is why it's so hard to pick out those that are the highlights. One favourite would be the Kye's Reel/Lenawee Reel set. Both tunes, which were composed by Liz, are darkly driving minor-based tunes and are certain to make you sit up a little further on the edge of your seat. Another favourite is the nostalgic waltz, Koesnacht. Written by Johnny McCarthy while in Switzerland, the title translates to "kiss in the night." A couple other highlights are the reel set, Paddy Fahey's/The Man of the House/Paddy Fahey's, which has a great minor tune surrounded by two of Paddy Fahey's well-known tunes, and The Girl From the Big House/Trá na mBan/Thank God We're Surrounded by Water, a jig set which features a tune by Liz (Trá nam Ban), and a Paddy Fahey setting of the final tune. Keep an eye on these girls. They're young and they're going to go very far. I highly recommend this album and anything else they might come out with. The Kane sisters can be found on the web at: http://www.thekanesisters.com/. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, is a native to the central New York region. She plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Monday, May 09, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Irish Heartbeat" by Van Morrison and the Chieftains
by Phil Hall
Artist: Van Morrison and the Chieftains Album: "Irish Heartbeat" Year produced: 1988 The Chieftains have collaborated musically with a wide spectrum of creative artists, ranging from James Galway to the Rolling Stones. But perhaps their finest pairing came when Van Morrison joined them for the 1988 album "Irish Heartbeat," which is my choice for the very best of the Chieftains' canon.  "Irish Heartbeat" consists of 10 songs, eight of them traditional Irish melodies which are performed with such depth and vibrancy that it is easy to assume they are all brand new. Morrison was in playful vocal form, sowing musical wild oats with the opening "Star of the County Down" and the raucous reel "I'll Tell Me Ma." The Chieftains' main vocalist Kevin Conneff does a grand vocal duel with Morrison on "Ta Mo Chleamhnas Deanta (My Match It Is Made"), with Morrison taking the English lyrics while Conneff keeps the Irish lyrics in play.The emotionalism of Irish folk music is heard with uncommonly graceful renditions of "Carrickfergus" and "She Moved Through the Fair." Morrison's decidedly mature and raw voice gives these renditions a tinge of time-weathered poignancy and rue which is frequently absent when the songs are performed by singers of a younger and finely-trained voice. The two new songs created for the recording, "Irish Heartbeat" and "Celtic Ray," are pleasant if not particularly stirring. But their inadequacies are easy to overlook, especially with the closing polka "Marie's Wedding," a sweeping and jolly swish of matrimonial celebration (and listen carefully for the lush back-up vocals from Mary Black, Maura O'Connell and June Boyce). Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Saturday, May 07, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Makem & Clancy Concert [Live]" by Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy
by Phil Hall
Artist: Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy Album: The Makem & Clancy Concert Year produced: 1990 Not only is "The Makem & Clancy Concert" the finest live Celtic recording of all time, but it is also among the greatest concert recordings every captured on microphone -- regardless of the musical genre. Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy were in top musical form as they barreled their way through an amazing mixture of comic, romantic, haunting and Celt-flavored patriotic tunes.  "The Makem & Clancy Concert" is the rare recording where the humorous songs and lively comic patter can be heard endlessly and still raise gales of laughter. Whether running amok with the zany situations of "My Father Loves Nikita Khruschev" or taking hedonism to surreal borders with "The 200 Year Old Alcoholic," the duo can turn novelty songs into classics of brilliantly conceived mirth. Even their running commentaries are goldmines of good humor: when an attempt to rouse the audience into a sing-along results in a lopsided and lethargic mess, Tommy Clancy exhorts the audience members to join hands in an attempt "to contact the living."But Clancy and Makem know how to pull at the heartstrings with a sincerity that is uncommon even among the most gifted of folk singers. "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" recounts the Australian experience in World War I with brutal and devastating results. "The Dutchman," with its story of love amid the challenges of aging and a fraying mind, is given its single most poignant rendition here. "Leave Her Jonny," with its cry for the premature end of a doomed love, is work of simple grace but rich power. And no red-blooded Celt cannot feel the call to arms with "Sound the Pibroch," which recalls the doomed nobility of a historic war with a resonance that echoes through the centuries into today's war-weary world. While Makem & Clancy may not have intended a new Celtic uprising with their performance, they nonetheless inspire a new generation of Celtic music lovers with their endless talents. This classic recording is one for the ages. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, April 21, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Best of The Dubliners" by The Dubliners
by Brenda Stokes
Artist: The Dubliners Album: "The Best of The Dubliners" Year produced: 2003 After 40 years of playing fantastic traditional Irish music, The Dubliners released "The Best of The Dubliners" in 2003. This 3-CD set showcases the band's best hits and most memorable songs over the years.  The first CD in the set primarily contains drinking songs. If you want to invoke the pub ambiance, play some "Whiskey in the Jar," which is probably one of my favorite drinking songs ever. Other great selections from this disc include "Black Velvet Band," and "The Night Visiting Song." The Dubliners have a way of playing these classics like they were intended to be, full of excellent musicianship and rough around the edges vocals. Their voices and instrumentation make it sound as though these traditional songs are there's and there's alone.The second CD in this great collection includes classics like "Molly Malone," "Wild Rover," and "Finnegan's Wake." These are the kind of songs that you just can't help but sing along with. I particularly enjoyed, "Lord of the Dance," a nice ditty that has been adapted into theme song of the dance show by the same name. One of my all time favorites is included on this disc as well called, "Dublin in the Rare Oul' Times." Finally, the third disc is a nice compilation of The Dubliners' best rebel songs including "Salamanca Reel," a lively banjo-infused tune, and the melancholy and touching, "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda." Although not as fun as the other two CDs in the set, this disc completes the picture of Irish culture, providing songs reflecting both the good and the bad times. If you really want a collection that covers all of your bases with pub classics and sad love songs, pick up a copy of "The Best of The Dubliners." Fans of Irish music that like to get to the roots will definitely appreciate it. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Brenda Stokes is a freelance writer, former Irish Step-dancer and college student located in Southern California. She dreams in jigs and reels and is pursuing a degree in English with an emphasis in Irish studies. Her work has appeared in Woman This Month and N2arts and she can be reached at brenda@ph-x.com Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Saturday, April 16, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Children of Lir" by Patrick Cassidy
by Phil Hall
Artist: Patrick Cassidy Album: "The Children of Lir" Year produced: 1997 Celtic operas are not commonplace, and the closest one can come would be this off-beat foray into classical music. Patrick Cassidy tapped into one of Ireland's most unusual legends for this Irish-language oratorio. It is a story of love, jealousy, witchcraft, suffering and redemption through the grace of no less a figure than Saint Patrick himself. One would imagine there would be plenty of dramatic musical moments in such an offering.  But "The Children of Lir" is rather somnolent in its presentation and it rarely connects with its cultural roots. Cassidy seems to have distanced himself as much as possible from the Irish musical heritage here, as "The Children of Lir" sounds closer to Continental classical music than anything even vaguely Irish. If one came to the piece without knowing its origins or recognizing its language, it would be easy to confuse it with a minor work of German or Italian classical music rather than a modern Irish composition. The occasional wail of pipes in several of the arias gives a clue of the composition's ethnic origins, but they sound strangely out of place.Less forgivable is the inability of "The Children of Lir" to come to life as a musical reflection of its amazing story. It's not every day that one encounters a tale of a widower king who marries his sister-in-law, only to see her turn his four children into swans and doom them to live 900 years on hostile waters. Yet Cassidy's composition is so leisurely and emotion-free that the non-Irish speaker will have no clue what is going on, and those who know the story will wonder why it feels so bland. There is no passion anywhere in the piece -- it often feels as if the oratorio is being sung phonetically. "The Children of Lir" is a curio that never truly piques one's curiosity. Perhaps Cassidy or another composer can attempt to bring the Celtic experience into classical musical -- Lord knows Ireland is not lacking in stories worthy of grand opera! Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, April 13, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "When Kitty Eyes are Smiling (and other Celtic Cat Songs)" by Marc Gunn
by Michelle Osborne
Artist: The Dubliners' Tabby Cats Album: "When Kitty Eyes are Smiling (and other Celtic Cat Songs)" Year produced: 2005 I recently received a preview copy of Marc Gunn's "When Kitty Eyes are Smiling (and other Celtic Cat Songs)," a single that contains three songs (Furagone's Wake, When Kitty Eyes are Smiling, and Wild Kitty) that are a preview of his upcoming release of "Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers." This is an absolutely brilliant single and a great advertisement for the CD. The three songs are standard Irish drinking songs (who doesn't know Finnegan's Wake, When Irish Eyes are Smiling, and Wild Rover?) rewritten to be about cats...complete with meows, hissing, and a set of brilliantly funny lyrics.  Of course, it also contains Marc's fantastic voice, touched with a bit of laughter that's readily heard, as well as some wonderful guest meow-ers...erm...performers. Simply put, these songs are FUN and no one is more aware of that than Marc himself. If you don't find yourself giggling like mad through Wild Kitty, I'd be completely shocked. It's guaranteed to put you in a good mood and cause you to laugh out loud.For a limited time, "When Kitty Eyes are Smiling" is available for $3.95. The final CD is up for adoption in October 2005! You can find more information on this single and the upcoming release of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers on the web at: cat drinking songs .com Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, is a native to the central New York region. She plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, April 13, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" by The Pogues
by Michelle Osborne
Artist: The Pogues Album: If I Should Fall From Grace With God Year produced: 1988 I knew nothing of the world of Celtic rock until I was sent a preview copy of Marc Gunn's newly-released compilation, "The Secret World of Celtic Rock." Instantly, I was intrigued and was told to go listen to The Pogues who are highly influential in the Celtic rock world.  The Pogues, who's original name Pogue Mahone means "kiss my arse" in Gaelic, were founded by Shane MacGowan in 1981. Since then, they have shortened their name to the now well-known "The Pogues" (after a DJ discovered what pogue mahone meant) and put out 13 albums and several videos of their performances.If I Should Fall From Grace With God, released in 1988, was their 3rd album and contains over 50 minutes of some truly great music. One of the highlights of this album is the Christmas anthem, "Fairlytale of New York." After a beginning with a solo voice and piano, it launches into a song that starts idealistic and turns fairly harsh as the couple involved speak of what has happened to their dreams. One can easily hear the youthful idealism that turns to cold pessimism as the song spins around them. Another particular favourite is the "Turkish Song of the Damned." Be ready to crank the volume up on this one! Beginning with a driving beat and a Mediterranean-influenced melody, it continually floats between this sound and a more Celtic-inspired dance tune. Screams and howls punctuate the singing, while the latter portion is a driving revved-up jig. A couple other highlights include the instrumental "Metropolis," which was inspired by Leonard Bernstein's music (no doubt this would be West Side Story), and "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six," a song which shows their Republican leanings and was actually banned by the BBC. If you're looking for an album of solid Celtic rock, which is both unique and fun to listen to, you cannot possibly go wrong with this album by The Pogues. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, is a native to the central New York region. She plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, March 30, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Choice Language" by Capercaillie
by Phil Hall
Artist: Capercaillie Album: "Choice Language" Year produced: 2003 Here's something you don't hear that frequently: Celtic-style muzak. Capercaillie titled this release "Choice Language," but one can't help and wonder if any other choices are available. None of the 12 selections rise to anything resembling a memorable song. In fact, the only way the tracks can be differentiated is that some are in English and some are in Gaelic.  Vocalist Karen Matheson has a clear and lilting phrasing, but there's no passion or feeling in anything she puts forth. At times, she is so bland that it feels she's singing phonetically. A protest tune "Who Will Raise Their Voice?" comes out with such a tedious and unconvincing interpretation that it feels as if she is some degree of musical disobedience for being coerced to perform against her will. "I Will Set My Ship in Order" is meant to be a tribute to Ossian's Tony Cuffe and George Jackson, but her singing is so tepid that it feels more like an insult than a tribute.Throughout "Choice Language," Capercaillie pollutes the tracks with a watered down concept of Celtic music that frequently sounds like bad New Age or bland lite jazz. The occasional groan of pipes and whistles remind the listener of the Celtic roots, but even then long stretches of musical monotony flows before those reassuring sounds turn up. It's not impossible for the mind to wander while the songs play - these tunes barely register or catch the fancy. If someone were to pipe Celtic music into elevators, this would be on the playlist. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, March 24, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Two Horizons" by Moya Brennan
by Brenda Stokes
Artist: Moya Brennan Album: "Two Horizons" Year produced: 2004 After listening to "Two Horizons" by Moya Brennan for the first time, I was left speechless. Her flawless voice and instrumentation make for a unique Celtic musical collection that combines old and new styles seamlessly.  The album begins with the haunting melody of "Show Me" that can't help but remind me of Brennan's sister Enya's style of song. However, Moya captures something unique unto herself in this piece with sweeping instrumentation and a new-age sensibility.Other tunes include, "Bright Star," "Bi Liom," and "Change My World," which is a more traditionally Irish song that still captures the best of Brennan's enchanting vocals. Personal favorites include "Falling," a catchy and radio-worthy track that will leave you singing the chorus for days; "Tara," a story-driven piece that showcases Moya's crystal clear voice; and "Mothers of the Desert," which features a pop dance beat with strings and Moya's lilting harmonies overlaid on top of it. It is particularly catchy and hypnotic for me because of the graceful combination made between Moya's voice and the techno beat. All of the songs included on "Two Horizons" connect in some way, creating a complete story when put together and making for a unique and enjoyable listening experience-even if you're not a fan of Irish music! The title track, "Two Horizons," begins mysteriously as many of Brennan's songs do, but is a classy display of her soft, yet powerful vocals. As the low whistle begins to accompany her, the song slowly turns more and more traditional, soon leaving Brennan's voice behind for the bodhran and fiddles. What a joy Moya Brennan brings to Celtic music lovers everywhere with, "Two Horizons,"-an album that is so uniquely Irish, you can't help but come back for more. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Brenda Stokes is a freelance writer, former Irish Step-dancer and college student located in Southern California. She dreams in jigs and reels and is pursuing a degree in English with an emphasis in Irish studies. Her work has appeared in Woman This Month and N2arts and she can be reached at brenda@ph-x.com Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, March 17, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Blue Idol" by Altan
by Phil Hall
Artist: Altan Album: "The Blue Idol" Year Produced: 2002 This offering from the Irish folk sextet consists mostly of traditional tunes from Eire, although "The Low Highland" made its way over from Scotland and "Daily Growing" arrived via England. On the whole, "The Blue Idol" is a pleasant but strangely unmemorable production. There is nothing particularly wrong with it, but at the same time it just never clicks.  Vocalist Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh sounds lovely, as ever, and she graces both the English -- and Irish-language lyrics with clear and majestic phrasing. But strangely, her singing often lacks passion -- it's as if she is going for vocal style and not substance. "Daily Growing," a tale of a woman married to a lad some years her junior, never has any emotional impact when the story's cruel finale comes about – it is so antiseptic that it could easily have been a phonetic interpretation.Other traditional tunes, such as the "The Sea-Apprentice Boy" and two versions of "The Pretty Young Girl" (an English and Irish rendition) are casually tossed off without any evidence of attachment. There is no soul or heart here. It literally just lies there, pretty but inert. Even the instrumental pieces are strangely enervated. It would seem like Celtic Music 101 to fire up an audience with a lively reel or a jig, but here the music just plays blandly. Altan has done better, can do better, and (if they continue to record) hopefully will do better. But with "The Blue Idol," they goofed. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Monday, March 07, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "At the Close of an Irish Day" by Mary O'Dowd
by Phil Hall
Artist: Mary O'Dowd Album: "At the Close of an Irish Day" Year Produced: 1991 One of the more elusive voices of Celtic music is the Irish-American balladeer Mary O'Dowd, who only recorded one album prior to 1991's "At the Close of an Irish Day" and none since. Her stirring voice was in command whether the material was rich in sentiment or steely with anger, and while her lack of output is maddening she is guaranteed classic status just with this amazing album.  O'Dowd's opening number "When New York Was Irish" is a mini-masterpiece, celebrating Eire's contribution to America's greatest metropolis with a rich tapestry of large triumphs and small gestures, capped with a bittersweet but inevitable surrender of a separate and distinct ethnic pride into the greater glory of a modern multicultural landscape. One doesn't need to be either Irish or a New York to appreciate its sweep of time and achievement, and the recording alone is enough to warrant the purchase of the album.But "At the Close of an Irish Day" has a diversity of selections to intrigue the listener. Old sing-along favorites such as "Rings on My Fingers" and "Toast to the 32 Counties" are warm and playful in O'Dowd's charming renditions, while the title song and "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore" offer an uncommon mix of honey and rue in recalling Eire's vibrant charms. Political music, which often sounds shrill and strident, comes across with intelligent drama via O'Dowd's vocal prowess. "Wandering Wondering Child" and "The Town I Love So Well" capture the modern anguish of occupied Ulster, while "Fields of Athenry" frame the historic injustice of Anglo-Irish relations with deep grace and maturity. Even when the material strays from an Irish setting, as with the tune "The Dutchman" and its tale of elderly love in an Amsterdam setting, O'Dowd finds the emotional soul of a situation and displays it with a genuine sense of passion and sincerity. Where is Mary O'Dowd today? Beyond this album and her earlier "Portrait of Mary O'Dowd," she seems to have vanished. At least she is absent from music catalogues and e-commerce sites. But for those who can differentiate between quantity and quality, the sterling achievement of "At the Close of an Irish Day" is a recording to be cherished as a rare and precious musical commodity. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Friday, February 25, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Lake Effect" by Liz Carroll
by Michelle Osborne
Artist: Liz Carroll Album: Lake Effect Year Produced: 2002 Ask anyone about great American fiddlers and the name Liz Carroll is sure to come to the forefront of anyone who knows anything's mind. Beginning with winning both Junior and Senior All-Ireland championships before she turned 20, she has produced four brilliant solo albums received a National Heritage Award Fellowship (1994), and was named "Irish Traditional Musician of the Year" by the Irish Echo (2000).  Lake Effect (the title a tribute to the particular type of heavy snowfalls that occur in Chicago and the northeast as winter storms come across the Great Lakes) is Liz's most recent solo album. Accompanied by John Doyle on guitar, the album is a beautiful showcase both for Liz's fiddle playing and her composition skills. It takes a true understanding of the tradition to compose tunes which seem to be a part of it and yet still retain their unique character. She does this easily and has, in fact, done this on all her albums.A quick glance at the back cover of this album highlights one peculiarity of this album: The Turtle Island String Quartet. Rarely does the combination of classical ensembles with Irish traditional music produce anything but very trite music. Traditional music dressed in a tuxedo and paraded out as "Celtic." With Liz's touch, as well as this particular string quartet, this is not what we get. Instead, we get the Catherine Kelly's/Lake Effect tune set, an absolutely brilliant setting of a traditional tune, followed by one of Liz's own. The setting itself is jazzed up, with rhythm set up in the lower instruments and interjections by the higher violins. While not entirely traditional, it fits the music amazingly well and is the principal highlight of this album. Other highlights are the Liz Carroll tune "The Ghost," a beautiful air composed for a scene in a Marina Carr play, and an absolutely brilliant rendition of the traditional tune, "The Morning Dew." Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, a native to the central New York region, plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, February 24, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Magic of Ireland" by The Irish Ceili Band and Singers
by Brenda Stokes
Artist: The Irish Ceili Band and Singers Album: The Magic of Ireland Year Produced: 2002 This collection is massive. "The Magic of Ireland" performed by The Irish Ceili Band and Singers is a three CD set including many Irish classics and traditional songs. As a lover of traditional music, I greatly enjoy hearing new renditions of old pub songs. This set has some greats, including, "The Irish Rover" and "The Wild Rover." Both of these songs bring be back to times spent at ceilis with rugged but excellent live bands and dancing. Along with these great pub classics, however, are some renditions of the traditional waltzes. Many of these songs are a big part of American history and culture as well, including "My Wild Irish Rose" and "The Rose of Tralee." I feel transported back to the 50's with these songs, especially due to the variety show sound The Irish Ceili Band and Singers has. My only complaint is when the choral singing jumps in on pub songs. This just doesn't work too well for me, and doesn't come across as authentic. It can't be forgotten that this set includes the band's version of the theme from "Lord of the Dance," which is done it such way as to sound different than the original, but maintain its unique style. A few of my favorites from this collection include "Whiskey in the Jar," "The Black Velvet Band," and "Muirsheen Durkin." All three of these stayed true to their traditional stylings and made me want to get up and dance. I love songs that transport me back to fun times and cultural events and the pub songs with often amusing lyrics and catchy tunes take me there. If you want a large selection of pub songs, this set might not be for you. But if you enjoy waltzes and big, sweeping voices, you might just treasure this collection. Either way, there is a little bit of something here for everyone. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Brenda Stokes is a freelance writer, former Irish Step-dancer and college student located in Southern California. She dreams in jigs and reels and is pursuing a degree in English with an emphasis in Irish studies. Her work has appeared in Woman This Month and N2arts and she can be reached at brenda@ph-x.com Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, February 24, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Soul of a Harper" by Marc Gunn
by Michelle Osborne
Artist: Marc Gunn Album: Soul of a Harper Year Produced: 2004 I first came across Marc Gunn in a Celtic music community I belonged to. Intrigued by his intelligent comments, I wandered over to his website and discovered several mp3s from both him and his duo, The Brobdingnagian Bards (who he has several other CDs available with). I never quite know what to expect from independent artists. I was very pleased to find that Marc's music (and the Bards as well) is the kind that is easy to fall in love with upon first listening to it.  Soul of the Harper, released in 2004, is a compilation of Marc's solo endeavors from 2000-2003. The music ranges from solo autoharp instrumentals to both traditional songs and tunes. This is, perhaps, the true beauty of this album, and gives you a true picture of what this artist is about. It is not purely traditional, purely composed, purely song, or purely instrumental. It is a combination of all four of these elements, which enables the music to stay fresh with each subsequent track.Highlighting a few of my particular favourites on this album is difficult, as I enjoy each song and tune. "The Parting Glass" is one of the highest points of the album. A traditional Irish song sung with no accompaniment, it is soulfully rendered by Marc's deep, velvety voice. Also a high point is "The Leprechaun," one of Marc's composed songs, which shows his humourous side. Written in 2001, it's chock full of silly voices that are bound to make you laugh, as well as some light self-mockery, and creates an analogy between the modern idea of a Leprechaun and the unfortunate antiquated thinking of some Celtic musicians. Upbeat with a rollicking autoharp accompaniment, this song is just fun to listen to. On the more serious side of Marc's own songs is "The Bridge," a song about the distances so many will go for love. At turns romantic, silly, nostalgic, and fun, this album has something for everyone on it and comes highly recommended. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, a native to the central New York region, plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, February 24, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Underneath the Stars" by Kate Rusby
by Michelle Osborne
Artist: Kate Rusby Album: Underneath the Stars Year produced: 2003 My first introduction to Kate Rusby was through finding her albums at my local Borders. I knew nothing about her and so I trudged home to check out some clips on amazon.com. I found she had a lovely voice and ended up getting this album for Christmas. I had mixed feelings about the album at first, but the more I listen to it, the more I fall in love with it. Kate Rusby, who also sings with the all-female folk group the Poozies,appeared on the scene in 1998 with her first solo album, Hourglass. A little bit folk, a little bit Celtic, a little bit entirely her own, Kate has been a voice for a new generation of folk singers. Underneath the Stars, her latest album, is almost solely tracks composed by the artist. Does this leave her as simply folk, more than Celtic? A friend once told me that artists cross over into the "folk" category when they spend most of their time writing and performing their own tunes. In that way, Kate Rusby, is certainly folk, but the beautiful simplicity, Celtic vocal styling, and instrumental backup consisting of guitar, fiddle, and even whistle, give her music a sort of folk/Celtic fusion. The opening track, "The Good Man," has traditional lyrics, but music written by Rusby. This is one of my favourite songs on the album. The words are deceptively simple and at first listening, I didn't really pay much attention. Upon focusing on the words, it becomes a song which could very well imply two different stories: a cheating wife or a suspicious husband? Other highlights on this album are "Let Me Be" (a song about a woman who wants to remain independent, but then finally meets someone she wants, only to have him overlook her) and the title track (a lamenting song about leaving before you can't leave of your own free will). Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, is a native to the central New York region. She plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Friday, February 18, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Celtic Wedding" by The Chieftains
by Phil Hall
Artist: The Chieftains Album: Celtic Wedding: Music of Brittany Year Produced: 1998 With "Celtic Wedding," The Chieftains left the music traditions of Eire and celebrated the Breton Celtic heritage. The result is one of the Chieftains' finest recordings, bringing Brittany's rarely-heard Celtic sounds to full glory. From the opening number, the hypnotic "Dans Mod Koh A Voad" (with its brilliantly asymmetrical rhythms) through the epic 20-minute "Celtic Wedding" closing number, this extraordinary production captures the flavor and spirit of Brittany's Celtic heritage. The Breton language spices two of the finest selections here: "A Breton Carol" ("What Noise on Earth") is an ancient Christmas meditation performed with haunting grace by Nolween Monjarret (the Chieftains would include this number later in their holiday recording "The Bells of Dublin"). The band's own Kevin Conneff wraps himself around the Breton language with "Ev Ev Chistr 'Ta, Laou!", a drinking song aimed to give praise to the glory of cider, which is described in the liner notes as the Breton national drink. The instrumental numbers here are mostly dances, which the Chieftains perform with uncommon vigor and enthusiasm. The opening "Dans Mod Koh A Vod" is a ring dance from a small town called Baud and (according to the liner notes) it has not been practiced since 1950. "Dans-tro Fisel" is described as the "most difficult and tiring of all Breton dances." Whatever difficulties the dancers might be experiencing, the Chieftains sail through these numbers as if Breton blood was always flowing in their veins.  The climactic "Celtic Wedding" describes the marriage ritual from the bride receiving her bouquet as she leaves her parents' home to the newlyweds' bidding farewell to their wedding guests at their nuptial chamber. It is a fascinating mix of dances, marches, prayers and toasts which brilliantly capture the distinctive Celtic traditions of marriage Breton-style. If it was not classified as Celtic folk music, it could easily be considered classical in its rich depth and vast scope of holding a musical mirror to this most beautiful of ceremonies.Sadly, the Chieftains never followed up with another Breton-flavored album. But even as a standalone, "Celtic Wedding" is a classic in the band's magnificent canon. Find Celtic Harp Wedding Music here, or click here for Celtic Weddings and resources. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, February 09, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "A Place Among the Stones" by Davy Spillane
by Brenda Stokes
Artist: Davy Spillane Album: "A Place Among the Stones" Year produced: 1985 Davy Spillane is known for his unique sounding instrumentation, and "A Place Among the Stones" is definitely a prime example. Every track offers something new and different to your ears; a graceful combination of traditional and modern sounds, sure to leave you breathless. I enjoyed nearly every song in this collection. "Darklight," a quiet tune, uses the low whistle to set an ominous tone and then kicks in with the Uilleann pipes midway through. To the backdrop of steady guitar playing, Davy's whistle is like air blowing across nature. It just feels right, and is right. The pipes, however, offer listeners a voice that expresses the emotion of the musician in such a way as to be more dynamic than human voice or words could ever be. Other favorites include, "Promised Rain," a modern track that builds on itself out of repetition into a composition that places images of Celtic warriors and mythology in my mind. "A Place Among the Stones" features Maire Brennan on vocals in an interesting kind of duet between voice and pipes.  A personal choice, would have to be, "Starry Night," a beautiful display of Davy's talent that features Sean Tyrell singing. The tone of his voice and lamenting music reminds me much of "Carrickfergus" and other traditional songs.Davy has a special way of launching you back in time, to a land before history and into a culture that still pulses in the veins of Celtic people today. "Callow Lake," elicits this feeling from me, utilizing the low whistle and a background of silence for the perfect effect. The album ends with "Near the Horizon," a track that captures Davy's versatility in an acoustic guitar solo. This is the CD that essentially acted as this spectacular artist's debut in America, and I can't imagine a better collection to show off the skill and unique qualities of pipes and whistles. A long-held favorite of mine, and is sure to be one of yours' too. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Brenda Stokes is a freelance writer, former Irish Step-dancer and college student located in Southern California. She dreams in jigs and reels and is pursuing a degree in English with an emphasis in Irish studies. Her work has appeared in Woman This Month and N2arts and she can be reached at brenda@ph-x.com Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, February 08, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Best of Silly Wizard" by Silly Wizard
by Phil Hall
Artist: Silly Wizard Album: "The Best of Silly Wizard" Year produced: 1985 "The Best of Silly Wizard" is something of a misnomer, since this 1985 CD is also the best of Scottish-style Celtic folk music. This marvelous compilation captures Silly Wizard at its rambunctious peak, mixing compelling ballads and rollicking reels with such skill that it is difficult to keep pace with its energy and passion.  Andy M. Stewart, the lead vocalist for the group, is responsible for true wizardry in bringing many of the songs to full-throttle life. "The Fishermen's Song," a bitter and rueful meditation on the perilous maritime life and the widows it leaves ashore, is among the most brilliant compositions in the canon of Celtic music. "The Valley of Strathmore" and "Broom o' th Cowedenknowes" swing into a more sentimental realm, with its romantic yet futile dream of turning back time to a more serene past. "The Queen of Argyll" provides a playful celebration of feminine charm, as "the roses in the garden bow and ask their pardon" of the song's eponymous beauty. And the rendition of the traditional folk tune "Donald McGillavry," paired with a roaring rendition of "O'Neill's Calvary March," rivals the speed limit with its frenetic rush of wordplay and tune (Stewart's normally clear diction blurs into a near-indecipherable mash coated in the thickest Scottish brogue put on microphone).When Stewart is not singing, Silly Wizard still reigns with the combined mastery of accordionist Phil Cunningham, his fiddler brother Johnny Cunnigham, guitarists Bob Thomas and Martin Hadden and bass player Martin Hadden. Two lengthy instrumental numbers combining a series of classic reels offer Scottish folk at its most-spirited. If anything, the "The Best of Silly Wizard" should come with seat belts because Silly Wizard takes the listener on the wildest of Celtic music rides. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, January 27, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Kinnitty Sessions" by Lunasa
by Michelle Osborne
Artist: Lunasa Album: "Kinnitty Sessions" Year produced: 2004 Lunasa's first album arrived on the scene in 1997, a natural outgrowth of their time spent playing together. Since then, they have produced 4 more albums, as well as several solo albums. Lunasa's musical sound is defined by the uilleann pipes (an instrument that most of these Irish "super groups" sadly seem to do without) and the use of an acoustic bass. Unashamedly influenced by jazz music, Lunasa's music is filled with a variety of syncopations and lush harmonies that are expertly woven into both traditional and newly-composed tunes. The Kinnitty Sessions album was recorded live in front of a small audience (though the sound quality is so good you wouldn't actually know this) in Ireland's supposedly haunted Kinnitty Castle. The opening track is typical Lunasa and is a true joy to listen to. The first tune is an entirely traditional rendition of the jig, the Stolen Purse, played on pipes (Cillian Vallely) and flute (Kevin Crawford). The second tune, An Síoda, brings in the accompaniment in a syncopated pattern that is Lunasa's jazz-influenced sound at its best. After a brief pause, the full group launches into the final tune, Brendan McMahon's Reel. Yes, that's right. One of the hallmarks of Lunasa's tune arrangements is their change between tune types in the middle of a set. While this is far from traditional, it brings an unexpected and refreshing twist to the music. Other highlights on this album are Kevin Crawford's whistle playing on the reel set entitled Island Paddy (besides a gorgeous whistle tone quality, his technique and style are amazing to listen to), a gorgeous uilleann pipe air entitled The Wounded Hussar, and a fantastic moment on the Walrus track where three members of the ensemble (Kevin and Cillian are joined by Sean Smyth, the fiddle player) all play low whistles and weave in and out of harmony and melody with each other. Like Solas, Lunasa is not quite pure-drop trad. But if you want a fun album to listen to, this, or any of their other four albums, comes highly recommended. You can find more information on Lunasa at the Lunasa website. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, a native to the central New York region, plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Monday, January 24, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Talk On Corners" by The Corrs
by Brenda Stokes
Artist: The Corrs Album: "Talk On Corners" Year produced: 1999 I was first introduced to The Corrs through their hit cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams." One of my favorite bands of all time combined with Irish instrumentation and vocals proved to make for an amazing song that you are sure to replay over and over again. "Talk On Corners - Special Edition" includes "Dreams" but that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this folk-rock collection. Primarily remixes of their hits, this CD contains dance versions of their famous tunes including, "So Young," a harmony driven song, that has been dubbed the young person's anthem. I don't particularly care for the driving techno beat behind many of the songs, but the quality of the original versions remain, and I enjoy The Corrs enough to deal with it. Nearly every song is radio worthy on this disc, capturing this amazingly talented family at their absolute best. While writing and producing the majority of their music, Andrea, Sharon, Caroline and Jim combine modern folksy-rock with traditional Celtic instruments and tunes, proudly reminding their audience of their heritage. Besides their big hits, however, personal favorites include, "No Good For Me," a wonderful composition that shows off Andrea's passionate voice, the catchy "I Never Loved You Anyway," and "Paddy McCarthy." This song had me completely fooled! It starts out slow with a lounge beat and just when I wanted to hit the skip button, it bursts at the seams with fiddles and tin whistles. It's an awesome merging of modern techno dance beats and traditional reels. The album closes with a beautiful rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing," featuring a guest appearance by The Chieftains--a classy end to a must-have collection that finds the perfect balance between traditional and modern. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Brenda Stokes is a freelance writer, former Irish Step-dancer and college student located in Southern California. She dreams in jigs and reels and is pursuing a degree in English with an emphasis in Irish studies. Her work has appeared in Woman This Month and N2arts and she can be reached at brenda@ph-x.com Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, January 20, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "If This is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back" by The Saw Doctors
by Phil Hall
Artist: The Saw Doctors Album: "If This is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back" Year produced: 2001, original recording released in 1991 The Saw Doctors' 1991 album "If This is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back" is arguably the closest that Celtic rock has ever come to perfection. A stunning mixture of rude and rue, with visceral up-tempo explosions mixed along introspective ballads and laced with a distinctly Irish personality, the album is a stunning achievement which never wears out its welcome.  From its opening burst of bad-boy sass, the hilariously impolite tribute to jettisoned romance "I Useta Lover," to the closing tribute to lost love rediscovered too late in "I Hope You Meet Again," the Saw Doctors take turns kicking and caressing the human emotions. Through their music, love can send one soaring into new plateaus of emboldened pride ("What a Day"), corrupt the heart into the red light zone of pure undiluted lust ("Presentation Boarder"), wax nostalgically on the too-perfect past ("Red Cortina") and drive the mind into dangerous realms of obsession and angst ("Why Do I Always Want You").But throughout the recording, "If This is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back" maintains its unique Irish soul and perspective. "N17," a song from the perspective of a disillusioned emigrant who has yet to assimilate in his new land and who remains fixated with those he left behind, is both a haunting examination of new dreams turned sour when compared to the previously unappreciated simplicity of times which have passed. "Twenty-Five Quid" goes to the races, where a generous bet on "a 10:1 shot called Celtic Queen" is the strategy to win a night's entertainment with a sexy yet elusive lady. The power of music is also celebrated. "Freedom Fighters" offers a tuneful solution to Irish problems: a traveling band of musicians who cover the entire country in their quest to bring peace and stability. "Sing a Powerful Song" follows well-worn advice of using music to raise spirits, with an extra reminder of the effectiveness of the formula in regions where jobs are disappearing and beloved institutions are facing the wrecking ball. The album is unique in that it lacks a single false note, false sentiment or false step. To compare "If This is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back" to a rollercoaster ride would be trite, since the average rollercoaster ride is far more sedate than this album. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, January 19, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Home Ground: Live from Scotland" by Battlefield Band
by Phil Hall
Artist: Battlefield Band Album: "Home Ground: Live from Scotland" Year produced: 1994 This concert album, recorded from a live 1989 performance in Scotland, offers Battlefield Band at the peak of its creative powers. Mixing adrenaline-rushing energy with equal parts Celtic traditions and modern whimsy, "Home Ground: Live from Scotland" is a field of memorable musical accomplishments.  The wealth of the recording comes in the wildly exuberant renditions of the group's classic numbers: the ale-soaked playfulness of "After Hours," the mournful elegy to Thatcherite economic chaos in "Farewell Jonny Miner," the rich Scottish history embodied in "Yew Tree" and the epic "Rovin' Dies Hard" with its army of adventure-seeking Scots spanning the world in professional and emotional conquests.Perhaps it was the magic of the live performance which brought their musical magic to full speed, because these songs never sounded so alive and jubilant; the group's studio recordings of these songs, although classic in their own right, actually feel sedate and polite in comparison. Even when the vocals are put aside for pure instrumentals, Battlefield Band literally roars with intensity: the opening number "Home Ground," with its astonishing mix of eight wildly spinning reels, leaves the listener breathless with its depth and scope. If the album has a flaw, it comes in Battlefield Band's penchant of incorporating classic pop/rock into its Celtic line-up. Their misguided cover of "Bad Moon Rising" (paired with "The Rising Moon Reel") and the hodgepodge "Band of a Thousand Chances" (which throws in "Land of a Thousand Dances," "Let's Twist Again" and "With a Little Help from My Friends" with a wee slice of Scottish hip-hop joking into a stew with traditional Scottish selections "Mrs. Mcleod of Raasay" and The Atholl Highlanders") feels discombobulated. But Battlefield Band and its concert audience have such a jolly time with this occasional tomfoolery that it's easy to overlook these cheery mistakes. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Monday, January 17, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Michael Flatley's Lord Of The Dance
by Brenda Stokes
Artist: Ronan Hardiman Album: "Michael Flatley's Lord Of The Dance" Year produced: 1997 From the moment the first bell sounds, "Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance" sparks curiosity in the mind of the listener, and intrigue at the distinctively Irish, yet mysterious tunes. Each track is undoubtedly traditional, but the modernized electronic sounds implemented by genius composer, Ronan Hardiman make this soundtrack something truly special. From the ethereal "Celtic Dreams" to the ceili-fun of "Siamsa" the music maintains. Not a single song is "filler" in this collection. A few standout songs include "Warriors," an ominous, earth-pounding hornpipe, "Gypsy," a sultry reel that takes on an Eastern sound and jazz feel, and "Cry of the Celts," the spectacular opener. I think what makes "Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance" really noteworthy, is its unique take on dance music. It makes me wish the musicians played reels and jigs like these when I was competing at feisanna. I really enjoyed the songs sung by Anne Buckley, whose soothing renditions of "Suil a Ruin" and "Our Wedding Day" (known by most as "She Moved Through the Fair") bring peaceful interludes to the soundtrack, of otherwise mainly upbeat tunes. Other artists featured include the fiddle duo, Maire Breatnach and Mairead Nesbitt. Their best track was unfortunately left off of the soundtrack, but they are still featured on "Lament" and "Fiery Nights" which are both stylistically brilliant, and show off their talents well. Of course, you can't leave out the bonus tracks that feature Michael Flatley and the Lord of the Dance troupe. These renditions of "Cry of the Celts" and "Lord of the Dance" will launch you right back into the show, tapping your feet and itching to get up and dance. A wonderful CD for those who love Irish music and appreciate cultural brilliance. I know I've taken "Michael Flatley's Lord Of The Dance" on just about ever trip I've been on, and it should have a home in your CD tower. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Brenda Stokes is a freelance writer, former Irish Step-dancer and college student located in Southern California. She dreams in jigs and reels and is pursuing a degree in English with an emphasis in Irish studies. Her work has appeared in Woman This Month and N2arts and she can be reached at brenda@ph-x.com Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, January 13, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "The Hour Before Dawn" by Solas
by Michelle Osborne
Artist: Solas Album: "The Hour Before Dawn" Year produced: October 2000 I happened upon this album somewhat by accident. After looking through the entire Celtic section, I found some albums by Solas and 'The Hour Before Dawn' instantly drew my eyes. Without having ever heard anything by this group, I bought the album, a decision I have never regretted.  Founded by Seamus Egan (a talented multi-instrumentalist who plays flute and tenor banjo, among others), this quintet of brilliant Irish musicians has been hailed as one of the best in the genre. Since their inception in 1995, Solas has produced six albums and a live DVD, as well as several solo albums. They have also toured throughout the world.The Hour Before Dawn (2000) was the fourth album put out by this group. The opening is a rollicking song in gaelic, sung by Deidre Scanlon (who replaced Karan Casey as Solas's main vocalist). While her voice is not as light and flexible as Karan's, her darker alto brings a new sound to Solas's songs. The second track, a set of reels, was what made me really sit up and take notice of what this group is doing. "Granny Quinn's" is a celebration of Winifred Horan's fiddle playing, with all the drive and accentuation she is capable of. Seamus Egan takes over with "The Lilac Reel" and one can only gawk in utter awe at the brilliance of this young man's flute playing. This reel set is fast, it's furious, and it's what defines Solas's sound. Other highlights include Deidre Scanlon's "Last of the Great Whales" (a lament about the slaughter of these animals), "A Miner's Life," sung by John Doyle, and Boy/Girl Tune, a Mediterranean-influenced tune by Mick McAuley. The final track is a joy all its own. Originally an instrumental tune written by Seamus Egan and rewritten with Sarah McLachlan for the movie Brothers McMullen, it is recorded here with Deidre Scanlon singing and a purely traditional group backing her up. While not pure-drop trad, this group is well worth a listen (or a thousand) and this particular album is a definite must-buy. Solas can be found on the web. They have just finished recording their latest albums and it is expected to be available in the spring of 2005. Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, a native to the central New York region, plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer. Labels: cd_review_2005
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, January 12, 2005. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn!
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