Various Artists - Classic Irish Folk - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Steeped in folk-rock tradition and powered by the intuitive creative connection between Matt Quinn (vocals, guitar) and Sam Cooper (guitar), the songs on Mt. Joy's eponymous debut depict the former wrestling with his own conscience, where the mundane and the fantastic collide as he processes tragedy, society, and love. Opener InchI'm Your WreckInch describes Inchmonsters in (the) closet, using up the wi-fiInch as it cycles from it's desperate, spiraling verses to it's swinging, stubbornly optimistic coda, while the loping, plaintive chords of InchYounger DaysInch meditate on a frayed psyche and the fear of choosing the wrong path. InchSheep,Inch with it's collapsing, hoarse-voiced cry of Inchfreedom was paid in blood,Inch is a post-Trump salvo on the responsibilities of the fortunate to overcome political and social despondency. InchAstrovanInch is a warm, yearning bit of road-trip philosophy that posits the existence of a Deadhead Jesus cruising the dusty highways of the countryside. And on InchSilver Lining,Inch perhaps the album's brightest moment, Quinn surveys the damage of hard drugs and the vicious cycle of addiction, as the song's melancholic sentiment kicks into it's fervid, defiant chorus, all shout-along vocals and trilling guitars.

In the company of some of the finest musicians, raise your glass, sing along and enjoy the craic. Slainte! 17 classics including InchDanny Boy,Inch InchWhiskey in a Jar,Inch InchThe Wild RoverInch and more.

Few genres carry such a rich and deep history as Celtic music, which reflects centuries of culture of the British Isles and Ireland as well as their North American inheritors. Classic Celtic Music from Smithsonian Folkways, compiled by music historian and folklorist Richard Carlin, delves into this diverse world of musical traditions, and is sure to delight both longtime fans of the genre and newcomers alike. Classic Celtic Music explores the breadth and depth of a genre while the liner notes offer insight into the cultural and historical contexts of each selection.