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Artist: The Battlefield Band
One and All: The Best of Cherish the Ladies
Artist: Cherish the Ladies

One & All (The Best of Cherish the Ladies) is an excellent overview of the group's three recordings for Green Linnet, containing 60 minutes of music that spotlight Cathie Ryan, Aoife Clancy, Winifred Horan, Siobhan Egan and Joanie Madden at their best. Along with their debut album, Back Door, this is the perfect introduction to this exceptional... Read More

Synergy
Artist: Deaf Shepherd
Collection, Pt. 2
Artist: Christy Moore

The Christy Moore Collection, Pt. 2 contains 17 songs recorded between 1983 and 1996. This is by no means a definitive compilation -- Moore rarely recorded anything less than fine, and this is just a sampling of what makes him one of the best Irish folk artists of his time. There are both traditional songs and new material on the collection, and... Read More

So Far: The Collection 1979-1995
Artist: Eileen Ivers

Released after Eileen Ivers became known as the fiddler in Riverdance, So Far: The Collection 1979-1995 is a good summation of her career, containing highlights from her entire career (including a couple of unreleased cuts) and wisely concentrating on her early-'90s records. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read More

Shine
Artist: Mary Black

Mary Black abandons her usual sound and production on Shine, an album of songs recorded in Los Angeles with local session musicians. At the production helm is studio veteran Larry Klein (who has worked with Peter Gabriel and Joni Mitchell), and he aided in selecting songs from a new crop of songwriters. Most notably, Mary Black sings five songs... Read More

The Best of Altan
Artist: Altan

If you don't count The Chieftains, Altan is probably the most popular traditional Irish group in the world right now. And they continue to find favor among hardcore folkies where The Chieftains don't, since they resist the temptation to record albums with the likes of Roger Daltrey and Van Morrison. The band originally formed around the... Read More

Long Black Veil
Artist: The Chieftains
Community Score: 6.00

With Long Black Veil, the Chieftains attempted a mainstream pop crossover by recording with rock and pop stars from the Rolling Stones and Sting to Van Morrison and Sinéad O'Connor. Instead of changing their sound to accommodate the talents of their guests, the band plays it straight. As always, their performance is superb; what is surprising is... Read More

Another Country
Artist: The Chieftains

A classic for lovers of good and heartfelt music played with joy. This has Paddy Moloney and the Chieftains combining forces with one of the best assemblages of country musicians put together. A diverse group it definitely is, stretching from Ricky Skaggs to Don Williams to Colin James running into Willie Nelson and Chet Atkins and so forth in a... Read More

Babes in the Wood
Artist: Mary Black

Babes in the Wood is Mary Black's finest, most consistently pleasing album. There is no filler here, and her song selection, culled from new songwriters such as Noel Brazil and classic folkies such as Richard Thompson, is impeccable. The acoustic arrangements (including guitar, piano, mandolin, Dobro, and accordion) are carried out by her... Read More

Best of Dolores Keane
Artist: Dolores Keane

This is an essential collection chronicling the incomparable interpretive genius of Dolores Keane, spanning her solo career and also touching upon her early De Danann contributions. Among the 13 cuts are several previously unreleased tracks, as well as familiar songs covering a host of styles, including contemporary ballads penned by Dougie... Read More