by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: The Wild Clover Band
Album: "Behind The Blarney"
Year produced: 2005

While still a fairly new group, The Wild Clover Band has blossomed and stretched its wings since its humble beginnings as a brewery's band in Nebraska in the year 2000. With a polished sound and truly excellent musicianship, it is no wonder they have branched out and stared expanding their circle of listeners to larger groups and surrounding states.

Behind The Blarney gives a twist on the traditional music with its hints of bluegrass, no doubt at least in part due to the influence of the skilled banjo play of Mike Metzger, who has 20 years plus of bluegrass music experience already under his belt. Although not present on every track, when it's there, you feel it! A nice and easy introduction to the musical style for those raised on the familiar Celtic sounds because it blends the two--especially on track 1, "Hills of Connemara" which whips things into a frenzy pretty darn quick.

The players have such a wide range of musical experience, and you can see that it has brought energy to the process of their band. Some members are music instructors as well as musicians, and you won't be shocked when you hear them play. The last track, "The Polka Set" can be lifted up as a fitting end to an album that is chock full of good music--all the way to the end.

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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 others and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com.

Labels: cd_review_2006

Posted by Marc Gunn, Friday, August 11, 2006.
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