Music » Celtic Music

This is the "serious" side of the Irish Rovers, as it were. Of course, serious is a relative term, considering the irresistible cheerfulness found in these 15 lilts. But, where 1999's The Best of the Irish Rovers focused on their best-known novelties (like "The Unicorn") and drinking songs from their 1968-1971 Decca tenure, this 2000 collection spotlights their political, historical, and more traditional Irish songs. Even when the themes are sober--postfamine emigration, social rebellion, unrest, and protest--the Rovers turn them into musical celebrations of perseverance, integrity, and triumph in the face of adversity. Add to these topical songs a mix of lively dance numbers and light-hearted courting songs, and you have a clear look at the "other side" of the Rovers, one thoroughly steeped in their musical and cultural history. --Marc Greilsamer

The tracks on The Best of the Chieftains are drawn from The Chieftains 7, The Chieftains 8, and Boil the Breakfast Early--three of the band's recordings from the late 1970s. This was the period when former Bothy Band and Planxty flautist Matt Molloy and vocalist/bodhran player Kevin Cunniffe joined up and finally fulfilled Paddy Maloney's vision of what the band should sound like. It also marks the last time the Chieftains recorded pure, unadulterated traditional Irish music. Not long after making these albums, the band set off on a new career that has included numerous movie and TV soundtracks, collaborations with pop stars of various stripes, and guest appearances with symphony orchestras. Although some purists decry the band's later attempts at crossover, the near perfection of tracks such as the exquisitely performed suite of dance tunes "Chase Around the Windmill" show that the Chieftains had taken the old tunes about as far as they could go. The group may have gone on to make better-selling records, but they never topped the traditional grace and charm of the songs on The Best of the Chieftains. --Michael Simmons

Release Date: 1990-10-25, Audio CD, Capitol

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Imagine a punk-rock Waterboys doing a better job of balancing their rock and acoustic incarnations, and you'll have a fix on this raggle-taggle, fiddle-driven U.K. quintet --Jeff Bateman

Release Date: 1999-03-09, Audio CD, Mca

Release Date: 2003-08-12, Audio CD, Constant Ivy Music

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Release Date: 2002-02-05, Audio CD, Shamtown

On Water from the Well, Paddy Moloney and the Chieftains return to the traditional Irish music that first made their reputations in the early 60s. Unlike most of their recordings from the 1990s there is nary a rock star, folk singer, or symphony orchestra to be found. Instead the Chieftains have chosen to play with some of Ireland's finest musicians, including Barney McKenna, Seamus Begley, Altan, and the Kilfenora Ceili Band. Here the Chieftains cover the entire spectrum of Irish traditional music, from a stately version of "Planxty George Brabazon" with the Belfast Harp Orchestra to a raucous session in flautist Matt Molloy's pub to a number of ballads sweetly sung by Kevin Conneff. The Chieftains have always performed at the highest level, but on Water from the Well the combination of familiar tunes and great musical guests seems to have inspired them to some of their best playing in years. --Michael Simmons