Irish Music at it Best
341088
This is Irish music at its best and most gripping.  Nothing frenetic here; just five genius musicians rooted so deeply in the tradition that they are unafraid of innovation, meandering and simple beauty. Iarla's voice is as stunning as ever.  As I anxiously await Spring in the frozen and snow-laden northeast USA, listening to Samradh Samradh is a joy and a hope!
737091
There's a whole big world of worthwhile music out there (outside the USA), and it's all available with the simple click of a mouse (OK, a credit card would be helpful). If Irish music has one indelible characteristic, it's  fun. The sound of Patrick Street is filled with fiddle, accordion,  bouzouki, mandolin and fun. Drop by the pub, buy a pint, and dance lightly  to `Walter Sammon's Grandmother,' `French Canadian Set La Cardeuse,' and  `Martin Rochford's Reel.' These up-tempo numbers are elaborate acoustic  works. Several are `suites' with jazz-like improvisations of a central  theme. The most fascinating compositions here are neither the jigs nor the  reels but the slower ballads. `The Holly Ground' is a spellbinding tale of  patriotism and revolution. Without revealing the plot, the ballad is  written in the fourth person - quite similar to Neil Young's  `Powderfinger.' `Dream,' a majestic acoustic instrumental, introduces the  homely `Indiana.' Andy Irvine's voice reminds me of Pete Seeker. The  lonesome `The Man With The Cap' closes Patrick Street. Like the other  ballads, the delivery and theme are unforgettable. The members of Patrick  Street are master musicians and astute lyricists. Drawl yourself a pint and  enjoy the performance.
3500755
Deanta's Ready for the Storm is an excellent recording. Their music is a gift of the music heritage only found in Ireland. Of its 13 songs, 5 are instrumental and the rest has lirics. The sounds made by their instruments and the voice of Mary Dillon just bring an excellent blend that shows the core of the spirit of celtic music. If you enjoy celtic music you will most certain like this one.
993594
This is good stuff.  My favorite is #6, an Irish singer who does an amazing job.  In fact, all artists who participated in this project did wonderfully...I'd never bought an album of world music before, but after  hearing this one, I'm going to check out what other titles this label  offers.  I recommend it.
3354194
This is the second of Craobh Rua's CDs I've purchased and like a fine wine they've improved with age. The vocals on the laments will carry you back to the Emerald Isles. The instrumental work will have you jumping from your seat to begin a jig. For traditional Celtic music they are truly one of the best groups out there and this CD goes a long way to bolster that point. The Belfast Mountains is an interesting and in a way comical lament where the singer asks for relief of his heartache when his lover leaves him. His wishes for almost everything bad to happen to his former lover is what I find comical. For a trip back to ole Erin, If Ida Been There, Ida Been There is the ticket
3020073
another of their great compilations of wonderful, individual and combined notes you won't hear this side of heaven. you don't have to be Irish to
appreciate the traditional instruments used and the honest renditions of some old ballad songs as well as some more modern reproductions of some great modern songs. a must-have
1750366
There have been very few CD's that have totally enveloped me with their music. A touch of melancholy; a dab of bittersweet violins; on a bed of open green "Irish - Celtic" meadows in the background - you're in for a treat. don't pass this one up!!!
172890
I loved the movie and its score.  If you like Irish music and its lyrical derivatives, you'll enjoy this album.
1141721
If you are remotely interested  in Irish music, this is
an absolute must-have, it's a miracle and a revelation.
For the first time, this CD presents in full length the most legendary concert of Ireland's most popular group, The Dubliners, recorded, of course in the heart of good old Dublin city, uncensored (!) and in superb sound quality. Previous LP and Cd versions were marred by poor sound quality and were not
complete. Additionally, it contains seven bonus tracks, among them the studio version of The Foggy Dew, the best -because
most touching- song about the Easter Rising in 1916, when this small country gave an example to the whole world of courage and thirst for freedom. The song, too, comes for the first time
in crystal clear sound quality. The record features both Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew, the two most thunderous voices in recorded folk music. The songs' lyrics offer a kaleidoscopic -and very humorous view- of all things Irish. I think I'll
give the disc another spin right now after finishing this
review, although I haven't got any of the good old brew in my house - fans of Ireland, you know that it's stout that I mean.
826179
I own all three Burach albums,and this is the one that ends up in my CD player most often. The playing is as superb as ever, the tune sets are wonderful, and the songs are catchy. A really great blend of traditional and modern music. I'm happy to say that Burach is coming out with a new album soon, check out the  re-vamped Brechin-All-Records website for details.
2560597
The music on this CD is lovely and soulful.  A true reflection on traditional Irish music.  Truly heartfelt and inspirational music.
4582712
Very nice traditional Irish music, particularly if you like the concertina.
188526
I have watched the Irish Rovers since the 1960's.  This is one of my favorite CD's  The 2 live extras are so much fun to listen to that you cannot help but sing along, esp. 'Black Velvet Band.'  Get this, you will love it.
355169
The High Kings are a fantastic group of singers that sing beautiful Irish ballads. They are Darren Holden, Martin Furey, Finbarr Clancy and Brian Dunphy. Furey, Clancy and Dunphy all hail from families who have been known for years for their great Irish singing. Holden received rave reviews for his performance on Broadway as Billy Joel's Pianoman! If you love traditional Irish music this dvd is for you. It's great!
1156032
Altan has released their latest CD and it reenforces what all of us know about them. They are simply the best at Irish music period. They eschew all manner of new age, new celtic, new synth dominated dixie chic poptrash and deliver sets of music wherein the remarkable talents of this stunning ensemble display just how well they listen to each other. This is musicians' music: set clearly and squarely in service of the Muse, allowing MUSIC itself to lean over and take them into its confidence. More than once, I have said this is the finest ensemble playing any kind of music since the Miles-Evans-Coltrane... of the 50's.
As with the last release, the CD is strongly song driven, which is a bit of a departure from their earlier cannon. All the same, there are reels, schottisches and slip jigs that confirm just how incredibly this group manages to find and expand upon the nuances inherent in the music. The double fiddle attack of Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh and Ciaran Tourish is the single most formidable line up in Traditional music. While I'm not interested in seeing Tourish in a belly-shirt, he could certainly outmaneuver any celtoid babe strutting instead of playing. Mairead and Ciaran have taken the dynamic Donegal fiddle tradition into this century with a consuming passion and their interaction brings a sense of wonder, especially live. There is no more heartfelt player in Irish music than Dermot Byrne and his box work is impressionistically sensitive throughout this album. Rhythm mates Ciarran Curran and Daithi Sproule and Mark Kelly drive the engine that enables Mairead and Tourish to set fire to everything in sight.
This CD, like the last, is strongly song driven, and they are all quite remarkable. I'm not a big Paul Brady fan, but his appearances on this CD are so well integrated that for once he does not leaden the proceedings, especially on the first tune, a salacious little number about a woman of 24 bedding a boy of 14. The  liner notes trace the folksong pedigree of this tale, but, you know, Shane MacGowan could not of come up with a more scandaolus theme, so it is kind of funny to hear Brady sing the part of the father of the bride who arranges this tryst. Elsewhere, Dolly Parton joins Mairead in a seamlessly shared vocal. First time through the CD, I didn't realize it was Parton. This is a natural forum for her and you can tell that she and Mairead are definitely on the same wavelength. Anna Ni Mhaoniagh and Daithi Sproule back up much of the vocal work.
Liam O Flynn lends his remarkable piping at one point, and you are left with the desire to hear more of him with Altan. It works so intensely. James Blennerhasset on bass and Jimmy Higgins on bodhran give the CD "something for the trunk," as they say in hip hop. Donal Lunny fills the middle beautifully with his bouzouki work.
It is a shame there isn't a 4 1/2 star rating you could give it, for this is certainly more than just 4 stars. Altan has in fact recorded the 2 best CDs in all of Irish music, "Harvest Storm" and "Island Angel". In the case of these two recordings, 5 stars is an insult. "The Blue Idol" is a remarkable disc, and a worthy addition to their work. Perhaps in the future there will be a live DVD: this band takes no prisoners in concert, and you get more of a sense of how tightly the hairpin turns are executed when you see them live. Mairead feeds off the energy of a crowd as few other artists have ever managed. She can raise your temperature to boiling with her blistering attack, then send you into the place where the spirits dwell poetically with her haunting voice. Accompanied , and sometimes offset, by Daithi Sproule, it is a remarkable experience. Daithi comes off underutilized in the studio, but live, he is as compelling a singer and as powerful a guitarist as there is in music. I seem to remember an English quartet whose lead guitarist was a bit underutilized. Oh well, all things must pass.
Altan is on tour this Spring in the US. Go! They are not to be missed. Nor is this CD. Live or in the studio, they are as good as it gets.
1760206
I picked up this album not long ago on a whim. Having heard only a few of the Doctors' songs, I didn't know what to expect from a full album. Well, now I know I didn't waste my money. This is a rollicking set of songs that gets better with each listen...whether or not I'm sipping a Guinness. Standouts include "Best of Friends," "Galway and Mayo" and, my personal favorite, "Carry Me Away" (a haunting ballad). For sheer toe-tapping pleasure, you can't beat "Heading for the Sunshine" and the neo-traditional "Joyce Country Ceili Band" (listen for the smile-inducing lyrics). Folks, this album proves that Irish music is so much more than "Danny Boy" and the Irish Tenors. I'll be sure to catch the Doctors the next time they're in the States.
917452
Orla Fallon Distant Shore CD is a delight. It has music you will tap you feet and want to sing along to. It has many Irish themed music like "Bean an TI" and also you hear Orla wonderful harp in the song "Eleanor Plunkett : Trip to Shanbally and Micheal O' Dwyer's". This song is entirely instrumental with Irish tone music. If you love Celtic Woman I know you will enjoy Orla's solo CD.