by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: The Blarnacles
Album: "Got Blarnacles?"
Year produced: 2006

This acoustic Celtic folk band from the Cincinnati area delivers a nice song grouping here on "Got Blarnacles." The group's unusual name is actually a hybrid, mixing "blarney" and "barnacles" for a fun and catchy title. It reflects the group well--thoughtful, yet not too serious. They seem to like taking it light.

You'll most likely find this group a bit eclectic, with a strong underlying Bluegrass influence that manages to keep things interesting without hijacking the CD. Still a rather young group (around since November, 2004), don't mistake their lack of time playing together as a group for them being novice players--at least two of the members go back about 25 years as musicians, and between them all, there are more instruments than one wants to count that they can play.

The CD can really be described as "easy on the nerves," so those looking for something with a soothing, yet not boring sound will really take to the songs here. Although the Celtic sound is there, you don't get that overriding, thumping "gotta get up and dance" energy that one expects from a reel or other traditional favorites. This album is more of a "kick back and unwind after a day that beat the pulp out of you" kind of compilation. (Note--not slow--just easy!) Pleasant, amusing and nice and long--15 tracks to unwind to and enjoy into the evening....

A couple amusing songs are tossed in to bring a grin....such as track 3, "The Stuttering Lovers," and track 7, "Dear Boss," which both are sans instruments, but cute little tunes nonetheless. Enjoy this CD--that is what it was made for--you can just tell.

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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 Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com.

Labels: cd_review_2007

Posted by Marc Gunn, Friday, April 06, 2007.
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