The Best Of Sharon Shannon: Spellbound

Sharon Shannon

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
• Original Release Date: January 12, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Green Linnet
• ASIN: B00000GV5C
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #235,460 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Mama's got a squeezebox, and she definitely knows how to play it. For a decade, Ireland's Sharon Shannon has been nibbling at the edges of folk, taking a lot of chances, and making some glorious music. This summary of her work shows just how far she's gone--teaming her playing with reggae producer Dennis Bovell was just one daring move--and how good she is, both on the accordion and the fiddle. Add in a bit of unreleased material (including some singing from former Waterboy Mike Scott) and you've got an excellent representation of her solo work to date. If this is what she's achieved in her first 10 years, the possibilities for the future are staggering. Worldly, wise, and completely wonderful. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great music! Great variety! Great price!, November 17, 1999

By	Lilting Banshee (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This is the favorite cd for everyone in our family (ages 9, 12, and 40-something parents). Sharon is accompanied by a variety of superb musicians on tunes from her previously released cd's. She's kinda like the Ry Cooder of Irish accordion music: she's at home in a variety of styles, excels at all of them, and makes music that's joyous and moving. She and her musical companions will definitely have you tapping your feet, if not dancing across the floor. If you like traditional Irish music or Irish music with an electric update, you'll like this. You may not realize how good an accordion can sound, til you've heard Sharon's dancing fingers. This cd will be right at home on your shelf with the Bothy Band, Altan, Solas, and Donal Lunny's Coolfin.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Irish and Roots Music, Great Recording, April 7, 2001

By	Sharon and Peter Pollaczek (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This compilation of Sharon Shannon's accordian based music is simply wonderful. It is primarily Irish sounding music, but with a brew of American, Swedish, French Canadian, Scottish, and other ethnic tunes thrown in. The accompanying musicians are top notch and the meldodic sound of accordian and fiddles is a treat. This is a long, harmonic, melodic, highly rhythmic, and well played CD, and I haven't tired of it after probably 10 listenings in the last 2 months. (My wife may be tired of hearing it--she just politiely closed the door as I listen to this lively music once again..) If you like Irish and other ethnic tunes played musically, it's hard to imagine that this wouldn't become one of your favorites.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you can only own one Sharon Shannon CD..., September 19, 2005

By	Green Mountain Observer (Vermont USA) - See all my reviews

Then this is the one you should have! This compilation of Sharon Shannon's work is the most complete, although its become somewhat dated since the release of her last two CDs. The disc includes many of her best: "Mouth of the Tobique", "Blackbird", "Bag of Cats" and many other enjoyable but perhaps not well known pieces like "Song of the Rosy Cross". This CD would be an excellent introduction to her music, especially the more traditional tunes. The only quality this CD lacks is Shannon's more recent practice of teaming up for "seshuns" with other world music artists, some famous in the U.S. and some less so.

If purchased along with one of her more recent works, (I'd recommend The Diamond Mountain Sessions) you would have a fairly complete idea of the kind of musician Shannon is and how she loves to collaborate with other artists.

This is a "must own" however for any Sharon Shannon fan. Enjoy!