by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: Sligo Rags
Album: The Whiskey Never Lies
Year produced: 2007

Starting off with a "barbershop quartet-like" intro to their title track, "The Whiskey Never Lies," Sligo Rags then launches in to an energetic (and fantastic) song; the perfect attention grabber for this CD. I wasn't sure what to expect next. And this album is like that...by track 3 I was intrigued and looking forward to each new sound/song to see what fresh offering was coming down the pipe...

There is an ease to the musicianship here that is refreshing. It takes expert players to make things sound so fluid. Blending Celtic, folk, bluegrass and a tiny bit of rock/funk stylings, this band has a unique sound to contribute to listeners. The mixture of humour and traditional sounds with fresh arrangements and musical virtuosity means a feast for the ears. The folk/bluegrass influence assures that the tunes are never too jarring, but the Celtic pull means that they are also energetic or infused with feeling.

The dedication to their craft shines through, and you can tell that they put a lot of effort into this CD. They have truly put their best out there for all to see; and it is pretty dang great. Have a listen and enjoy...

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her website at CatherineLTully.com.


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