by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: The Beggarmen
Album: "Newry Town"
Year produced: 2007

With roots firmly placed in the genre of traditional Celtic music, the Beggarmen are excellent ambassadors for their style. This Iowa City-based quartet are experts with their craft and wield their instruments with the confidence that comes only with ability. "Newry Town" is only the band's second effort in terms of a CD release, but they sound terrific and well-polished.

Each of the four band members has been in love with music from an early age and this fact shines through. There is an ease with this group that almost makes you feel as though you are listening to a family play together.

The band tends to mix and match their offerings; part original tunes and part traditional. This is a nice combination, never going off in a direction that doesn't feel just right. They know how to create a good flow and vibe by putting tracks in the right spot. The CD has a "folk" feel in places, due mostly to the guitar, which is allowed to come through when it needs to. All of the instruments are allowed a chance in the spotlight and they all take advantage of it by sounding terrific.

This is just a plain ol' good CD, and is definitely worth a listen. The professional sound here is as good as any I've heard.

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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 www.catherineltully.com.

Labels: cd_review_2008

Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, June 10, 2008.
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