The Chieftains - Tears of Stone

So thoroughly identified are they with Irish music, that even when the Chieftains depart from the tradition--to collaborate with Chinese, country, or pop musicians, for example--they lose not a drop of credibility in the process. On Tears of Stone, the group accompanies a bevy of internationally acclaimed female vocalists on traditional tunes with inventive new arrangements by Paddy Moloney. Sinead O'Connor and the Corrs remain close to their roots, while Bonnie Raitt, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Loreena McKennitt, and Joan Osborne all sound more than convincingly Celtic. The best performances, however, are by those artists least attached to the tradition. Moloney's take on Joni Mitchell's "The Magdalene Laundries" outdoes the original; "Sake in the Jar," composed for Japanese pop star Akiko Yano, sounds like a new form of music altogether; and Canadian jazz singer Diana Krall's "Danny Boy" doesn't so much tug at the heartstrings as rip them out by the roots. --Richard Gehr Amazon.com

Bright Women of Song & The Chieftains

Leading Female Singers from around the world joined in this Celtic innovation from Gaelic Master Musicians--The Chieftains! The result is a lovely sample of song.

It's difficult to simply comment on a few selections because I love them all.

Bonnie Raitt gives a surprisingly different & striking performance of A Stór Mo Chroí. The sense of deep emotional loss in this song is very Gaelic--and it's very beautiful too.

The Magdalene Laundries by Joni Mitchell is another surprise of sorts, with its bitter, angry religious themes concerning female sexuality & "unwanted" pregnancy. An excellent composition that may be partially autobiographical?

Jimmy Mó Mhíle Stór with The Ranklins is a real treat for us Gaelic lovers.

In Factory Girl by Siníad O'Connor the singer reminds us once again of her great talent for delivering a raw, purist sound.

Sake in The Jar is an Asian composition by singer Akiko Yano. The title is a word play on the traditional Irish tune Whiskey in The Jar. This song is a real treat. It's great the way the song subtley builds to an almost Dionysian crescendo.

Natalie Merchant, another greatly talented musician offers an almost lighthearted rendition of the sad The Lowlands of Holland

Dina Krall presents a very different vocal interpretation of Danny Boy--and it may be just be the best I've heard.

Other notable contributions by Brenda Frickler & Anúna (Never Give All the Heart); The Corrs (I know My Love); Mary Chapin Carpenter (Deserted Soldier); Loreena McKennitt (Ye Rambling Boys of Pleasure); Joan Osborne (Raglin Road); Sissel (Siúil A Run) a great rendering of a very sad, always apt & traditional tune.; Eileen Rivers, Natalie Machmaster, Marie Breatnach & Annbjorg Lien (The Fiddling Ladies) you just can't help but clap & dance along.

Ophelia
Diamonds & Rust
Dog Eat Dog
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Fundamental
Relish
Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter
Uprooted
The Corrs - Best Of + 1
Japanese Girl
Twilight: The Best of Akiko Yano Live

September 29, 2008

wonderful

This piece is haunting and beautiful. The collaberation of the Chieftains and multiple female artists from around the world is so pleasing and mesmerising, I felt transported to another place and time. March 17, 2007

Disappointing and slow

I love the Chieftains and am a fan of many of the featured artists, but I was extremely disappointed by this CD. Don't expect the "Long Black Veil" here. Each song is drawn out in a painfully slow style. It's not that there's no good voices or pretty melodies, it's just that the artists seem to be working so hard to be soulful that it's a torturous listen. January 2, 2007

A collection of love songs from The Chieftains and some VERY SPECIAL guests

The Chieftains refuse to stagnate in their musical career, and this special-guest-filled albums proves that once again. This is an aboslutely all-star collection of traditional Irish songs sung by outstanding female vocalists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Diana Krall, Natalie Merchant, Joni Mitchell, Sinead O'Connor, Joan Osborne, and Bonnie Raitt. The fact that this band can collaborate with musicians ranging from country to rock to pop to Asian proves their musical genius. January 2, 2006

Good but not my favorite

I'll start off by saying that I dig the fact that these guys after performing for 40-odd years together are still looking for new ways to express themselves. They refuse to be a cliche or to stagnate. I just saw them here in Reno this past weekend and while it felt a little sad to not have Derek Bell and Martin Fay up there, they still played with great energy and passion. Those guys never mail it in......

Having said that, this one wasn't my favorite. I felt many of the tunes were a little slow and one-note. I just couldn't get passionate about their efforts here....it felt a little flat. The real spunk came from the Corrs who play a lively and fresh version of "I know my love" and "Sake in the jar" had real wit. "Never give all the heart" a song and word rendition of the Yeats poem was haunting. So I guess you could say some of the parts were truly brilliant (it's The Chieftains after all!) but "the whole" just never quite clicked for me. July 22, 2005

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