Recording information: Jealoustown Studios, Dunshaughlin, Meath, Ireland; The Rudolfinum, Prague.
Director: Petr Pycha.
Photographer: Kristin Callahan.
Arrangers: David Cullen; Arnie Roth; Eric Stern.
The Irish Tenors (Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns, and Karl Scully) followed up their acclaimed 2009 Christmas album with Ireland, a collection of 13 of the island nation's most beloved traditional and contemporary songs. While there are no attempts made to escape the plain, buttered toast confines of easy listening, upbeat pub standards like "Whiskey in the Jar," "Irish Rover," and "Dublin Medley" (as well as a spirited rendition of Steve Earle's "Galway Girl") dutifully scamper by like Sunday afternoon Broadway numbers, and tried and true shamrock ballads such as "Knocknashee," "The Water Is Wide," and the ubiquitous "Danny Boy" are lent an extra pillow or two by tasteful, simple arrangements, resulting in the perfect audio accompaniment to an ill-advised, green-plastic-hat nightcap. ~ James Christopher Monger
