Dan
Aquilante
CD REVIEWS
The old song says, “When Irish eyes are smiling . . . you can hear the angels
sing,” but sometimes there’s a little of the devil in the beat, too. This week’s
CD report celebrates the Celtic sound — halos and horns alike — with some of the
most popular Irish acts that have new records out in time for tomorrow’s St.
Patrick’s Day festivities.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
“The Music of Ireland: Welcome Home”
* * * *
This collection — the companion audio CD to public television’s two-part
series of the same name — illustrates how modern Irish music has had an
international impact. The disc starts with the traditional pub party song “Oro,
Se Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile” sung in boisterous Gaelic. Admittedly, I have no idea
what is being sung, but the spirit of welcome and cheer transcends language.
Sinead O’Connor, who often finds herself in political hot water, is angelic in
her soaring, traditionally arranged ballad “Song to the Siren.” Andrea Corr
takes more of a pop path on her lament “Oh Brother,” which connects the dots
between Ireland and Nashville. For the disc’s top track, check out “You’re the
One,” a duet with Shane MacGowan and Moya Brennan that’s reminiscent of the
Pogues/Kirsty MacColl pairing on “Fairytale of New York.”
The Chieftains album.
THE CHIEFTAINS
“San Patricio”
* * * ½
The Chieftains, the world’s most popular proponents of Celtic music, have
never limited themselves to a fiddle-dee-dee “Danny Boy” repertoire. They’ve
dabbled in everything from pop to classical Chinese music. For “San Patricio,”
the band (with help from guitarist/producer Ry Cooder) tells the little-known
story of a group of Irishmen who fought alongside Mexican troops during the
Mexican-American War. The disc mirrors that alliance, teaming the Chieftains
with fine Mexican musicians such as Los Tigres del Norte, Los Folkloristas and
even Linda Ronstadt, whose ancestors are Mexican. What makes “San Patricio”
special is how perfectly the Irish instrumentation blends with traditional
Mexican arrangements. It’s a surprise how well bagpipes, tin whistles and a
button accordion mesh with mariachi guitars.
BLACK 47
“Bankers and Gangsters”
* * *
For Larry Kirwan, the leader of New York’s hometown Celtic-rock house band
Black 47, it’s all about the stories and the characters. Kirwan finds
inspiration for his songs everywhere, including Post headlines about Bernie
Madoff for the title track “Bankers and Gangsters” to a breakfast where he heard
a wild story on which he based the song “Long Lost Tapes of Hendrix.” On that
inventive and adventurous song, the uilleann pipes are played in homage to
Jimi’s guitar style. The 13 tracks on this record have an us-against-them
attitude that suits Kirwan’s loopy Dylan-esque vocal style.
DROPKICK MURPHYS
“Live on Lansdowne”
* * * ½
A live album recorded in Beantown on and around last St. Patrick’s Day shows
Boston’s Celtic hardcore band at its best, wildest, most inebriated and
inspired. Throughout the 20-song disc, the Dropkick Murphys blend traditional
folk with shouted vocals and peppy three-chord punk. One of the standout songs
is “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” Despite what you may have heard at Yankee
Stadium, this “Boston” will make you cheer.