The Corrs-Home (Rhino)
The Corrs' longtime fans
have been grumbling for a few years now that the Irish folk-based band of
their first albums had been getting more and more of a pop sheen over the
years. While it is a legitimate point that they have given less of an
Irish lilt to music in recent years, the band has put together some
wonderful music.
Still, the band has done
this sweet little side project (it is even released on Rhino, the smaller,
more nostalgic sister label of their normal imprint Atlantic) to address
that complaint – and also to play tribute to some of the favorite songs of
the family group's late mother Jean.
Therefore, for their new
disk, fittingly called Home, the Corrs pay tribute to great Irish
music, performing nine traditional songs from the Emerald Isle and three
newer tunes by respected Celtic songwriters.
The new album is worth
the money spent right off the bat because it finally offers a studio version
of their wondrous cover of Thin Lizzy leader Phil Lynott's gorgeous "Old
Town," a song which has been part of the group's repertoire for years.
(Live versions had previously been on the 1999 Unplugged CD and the
2003 concert video Live In London.) That song is nearly
perfect, sweet and melancholy and surprisingly upbeat all at once.
Other standouts include a
dramatic take of "My Lagan Love" (which was also covered by Kate Bush quite
a few years ago) and a driving version of "Heart Like a Wheel" (which was
written by Anna McGarrigle but is probably best known for the 70s cover by
Linda Ronstadt.)
The Corrs really didn't
need to prove that they could still do this type of album, but it is kind of
nice that they did. (2/06)
Jay S. Jacobs
Copyright ©
2006 PopEntertainment.com All rights reserved.
Posted: February 4, 2006.
