Customer Reviews

An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Eileen Ivers, one of the most innovative fiddlers to come out of the Irish-American music scene in a long while, wanted to create a Christmas gift of an album, one that suggests the sort of friends-and-family gatherings she remembers from her childhood and from stories of her parents' lives in Ireland. This recording suits that aim perfectly, evoking the mood of a group of friends taking turns offering up a song or tune at a casual Christmas party.

But I was expecting a fiddler's album, and I very much wanted to hear Ivers put her very unique stamp on a selection of holiday tunes. You don't get that here; on most tracks, her fiddle is just a background accent, skipping merrily along behind the voices of various guest singers (including, most notably, Susan McKeown on "Don Oiche Ud I mBeithill/One Night in Bethlehem").

The singing is fine, and it all falls together as a pleasant CD for the season. But for the fiddle fanatic who, like myself, is expecting Ivers at her musical best, you'll have to settle instead for a whole lot of fiddle harmonies that only hint at the possibilities.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(net) editor

I love Elieen Ivers, but I was turned off by the vocal selections. They're just not up to par with her spectacular and innovative fiddling. There's no reason to pair her amazing talent with the lackluster singing and vocal arrangements. Still a good album, but I wish it was all Eileen and her fiddle.

It is a good Christmas CD... It rates up there with others that have been done by these artists.... Eileen Ivers is a sweet singer and the Gaelic Songs are the absolute
BEST... I would love an all Gaelic Christmas CD and books

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey with CD: Gift Edition

As I see others have written, there's actually a lot of fantastic songs on it. The problem is Immigrant Soul. I'm not a fan of her band. The vocals come out sounding like bad Disney R&B songs. But the fiddling... ah when Eileen Ivers fiddles, she is amazing. I'd strongly suggest buying MP3 tracks instead of the album. Get the good tunes. And there's a lot of 'em.

Loved it! We saw them live and had to have their CD. The CD is great and it was delivered in time for us to enjoy before Christmas!

Just FYI this CD is available on her website. It's a lot less expensive too. :)