Gaelic Storm

Remember the music that was playing during the steerage party in Titanic? That was Gaelic Storm, who on their self-titled debut present an engaging mix of traditional music, dance music, and songs, all performed with energy and enthusiasm. The album opens with "Hills of Connemara," a fast-paced tune with a long instrumental section before the vocals begin, thus giving you a taste of the considerable musical talent present in this group. "Bonnie Ship the Diamond/Tamlinn" is a fast, almost breathless piece with plenty of dramatic phrasing, while "The Farmer's Frolic" has a swinging shuffle feel. Particularly engaging are the strongly rhythmic "Rocky Road to Dublin/Kid on the Mountain" and the energetic closer "The Road to Liskeard," but it's all strong material that reminds one at times of early Chieftains recordings. --Genevieve Williams