Reviews
Irish Music Magazine
This album could probably be best described as a feed of bacon and cabbage after a diet of haute cuisine. We all love to try new things and we love hearing new songs but sometimes after a few albums of all original and experimental songs and music, we long for some good old-fashioned stuff. The Baileys give us twenty lovely renditions of songs we have grown to love and cherish. In addition, they perform them with a clarity and lack of augmentation that reminds us of the richness of our folk tradition. “Arthur McBride” gets new life in that we hear the lyrics and therefore we understand the story and what a wonderful and bloody “short story” that is even if it was without the melody. The same goes for “Mountains of Mourne”. Listening to this version with all the clear enunciation we can appreciate the wit and humour of Percy French. Recalling the vintage of the song it must have appeared quite risqué when he first sang of those ladies in dresses that might be for a ball or a bath. Other old favourites given new life – without being "re-interpreted to death" – include “Spancil Hill”, “Danny Boy” and “Peggy Gordon”. This album would be an ideal one to just sit and listen to for relaxation. It would also be a good source for a repertoire for any up and coming band or singer.
Nicky Rossiter
FATEA Magazine UK
One of the things I really love about Irish music is the depth to which they reflect people and places, a point "A Song for Ireland" brings home across it's twenty odd tracks. There's quite a populist selection amongst the song selection, but that's not a problem as The Baileys really do them justice, something that's absolutely essential when a song is well known as the likes of "Dirty Old Town". The arrangements are kept simple to ensure that the focus remains firmly on the songs; it's an album for relaxing and listening to, perhaps with a pint or two. Something they make very easy.
R2 Rock ‘n’ Reel
R2 Rock'n'Reel * * * Sept/Oct 09
Many of the twenty songs on this no-frills potted history of Irish folk music have been done to death-standards like 'Homes Of Donegal'(Paul Brady), 'Rocky Road To Dublin' (The Dubliners, The Chieftains with The Rolling Stones, Damien Dempsey), 'Danny Boy' (everyone!) and 'Raglan Road'(Van Morrison, Joan Osborne).
But it's The Baileys' insistence on stripping them to their core, getting close to their very root, which makes A Song for Ireland work. This is folk as it used to be played when I was a lad, folk without pretension or adornment-straight from the folkin'heart, if you like.
And if the honest but rudimentary vocals don't grab you, well the songs surely will. Who wouldn't want to hear the title track, 'Black Velvet Band', The Ould Triangle' or 'Sullivan's John' again? David Burke
FolkWax.com
A Perfect Example of the Genre, Folkwax Rating 10/10
FOLKWAX (06/25/09)
Our brethren over at BluesWax have a description that they use for those players who are most true to the traditional roots of the Blues. It is "real deal." When it comes to traditional Irish songs there couldn't be a better description for The Baileys. They are the real deal.
On A Song for Ireland the duo offers the epitome of traditional Irish song. This is not the modern version of fast-paced instrumental playing so popular among the new Trad crowd. In fact the instrumentation here is very predictable, it is just what is supposed to accompany these songs and the only real steps outside are some pipes and whistles from Noel Carberry. This is the songs as they have been handed down from one voice to the next. And songs they are, built around the voice of Michael Banahan (you might remember him as a founder of Rig The Jig). And what a voice; it is the voice for which these songs were meant. It is organic, peaty, and true. It is simply a joy to hear him present these songs that we have heard so many times.
In many ways listening to The Baileys (Banahan and his partner Anthony McDermott) play these songs is to hear them for the first time. Having heard many of these traditional songs ("Colcannon," "Star of County Down," "Black Velvet Band," and many more) played in hundreds of pubs in dozens of countries and having played many myself, upon hearing The Baileys I realized that I had been hearing and playing them in a way slightly untrue to the roots. Somewhere along the way they all got sped up to a more modern pace. Here they are presented with the patience and care from which they were bred. Here it is the energy of the song itself that carries, not the energy of the singer. This is as these songs were meant to be sung.
And there is a reason for that truly perfect presentation. For more than twenty-five years, these boys have played virtually every place in Ireland where this music is played, where this music was born. There is the proper dose of Irish haunting where it belongs and never too much joy where that belongs. Even that chestnut "Danny Boy," which usually means a trip to the bar for me to avoid the disappointment of yet another not-quite-on-the-mark version, is as it should be, with it’s underlying richness apparent and it's obvious point not too pointed. Again, it is just right.
If you are the sort who loves traditional Irish songs you need look no further, this is a perfect example of the genre. It is the real deal.
Jason Wesley is a founding editor of FolkWax.
Copperplate London UK
"From Jackie Sweeney's beautiful painting on the cover you should get the vibe that this album is something special, then when you hear the beauty in the grooves, you are full aware that this is a labor of love. For their first outing, these two well established Irish musicians have chosen 20 of Ireland's favorite songs and given them a beautiful and very considerate treatment. Nothing is overplayed; in fact understatement is the order of the day. With the musicians being a conduit for the songs and with some consideration you will agree with us that the reason these songs (so often bullied and under respected) have become part of the Irish psyche is they are bloody great songs! In the hands of The Baileys they are allowed to shine (and bring you their magic) in the spotlight once more". - Copperplate
FOLKWORDS.COM
Album Reviews
‘A Song for Ireland’ - pure gold from The Baileys (July 15, 2009)
The Irish folk tradition – too often successive artists dredge up the same old, same old when it comes to recording traditional songs. Then occasionally someone comes up with pure gold. I’m happy to tell you that if you love the Irish tradition the new album from The Baileys – ‘a Song for Ireland’ will not disappoint. This is traditional Irish song as it should be sung.
The Baileys are Michael Banahan (vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhran) and Anthony McDermott (acoustic guitar). On this album they add guests Paul Gurney (piano, bass, accordion, acoustic guitar and percussion) Noel Carberry (uilleann pipes and whistles) Aoife Kelly (fiddle) Johnnie Duffy (banjo) and Danny Sheerin (backing vocals). And that mix is just right.
This gentle and restful amble round the woven wonders of Irish song is carried by Michael’s richly crafted voice. Borne by an intricate yet infinitely subtle musical web it leads you to hidden places. You may well recognize the songs, you may have heard them dozens of times before, but this album is as fresh as distilled dew on a green grass morning.
In this album many of those traditional songs that innumerable bands have done to death, earn a new life. From ‘Rocky Road to Dublin’ and ‘A Song for Ireland’ through ‘Black Velvet Band’ and ‘Peggy Gordon’ to ‘Dirty Old Town’ and ‘Fiddlers Green’ - the deft touch of true musicians is there for all to hear.
If there’s a place in your heart (and ears) for the Irish tradition delivered with care and consideration add this album to your collection - go to www.copperplatemailorder.com But be prepared, you may grow to despise some of the versions you already have. Tim Carroll
The Irish World - A drop of Baileys
This debut release of twenty traditional favourites is a delightful revisit of some classic Irish tracks… By Shelley Marsden - 29/07/09
The Baileys are Michael Banahan (vocals), a founding member of Rig the Jig and Anthony McDermott (guitar), who joined the band two years later. Rig the Jig released four critically-acclaimed records, have appeared across Europe and the US, and are currently working on album no. five.
Two friends, and troubadours in the time-honoured folk tradition, as soon as they got a hold of a dodgy-looking brown van, Michael and Anthony set off across Ireland to pass on the culture and history of their homeland, through a set of beautiful traditional ballads. There are few pubs, town halls or hamlets that can say they haven’t played host to these two.
On A Song for Ireland, the duo have committed these tracks to record. With a proliferation of bands that fuse traditional with world music, jazz and other genres – some with stunning results, The Baileys represent the need, simultaneously, for a truly organic, pure Irish sound.
Given a modern touch by Hall of Famer Robyn Robins (who has produced for Van Morrison, Damien Rice and U2 to name but a few), the debut album nonetheless has a timeless quality, including well-loved tunes such as “Fiddler’s Green”, “The Wild Rover”, “The Mountains of Mourne”, one of Ireland’s greatest ever sports anthems, “The Fields of Athenry” and the light-hearted “Colcannon.”
Don’t go looking for cutting edge music on A Song for Ireland, as you’ll be barking up the wrong tree. But nor should you make the mistake of looking at the track-list and thinking, ‘Here we go again…’as it’s choc full of songs that have been done to death.
Why? Because you’d be missing a trick, Traditional standards, when done with heart and imagination, can be reborn, and The Baileys, with their careful arrangements and love for wandering through the back pages of Irish traditional music, have done just that. Songs are given a fresh lick of paint – and classic versions of tracks you’ve always held dear may even end up having to take second place to a few of these…
Netrhythms.com
The BaileysA SONG FOR IRELAND
(Universal/Toucan Cove TC 1105)
This disc collects together 20 of the "best-known of Irish songs" - best-known and best-loved, that is, in the accepted sense and as understood by the man in the street (I'll address that caveat/distinction later.) - in sensibly unsentimental, understated and underplayed (almost to the point of seeming plain) performances by Michael Banahan and Anthony McDermott, both members of acclaimed outfit Rig The Jig, who for the purposes of this exercise (and for some reason I can't fathom) have chosen to call themselves by the unprepossessing name of The Baileys.
These are affectionate, genial, commendably polished and admirably conservative (though not especially sedate) renditions which make a virtue out of their intrinsic Irish character and its lovable honesty. There are no discernible flaws in execution and no crass misjudgements or lapses in taste, but that's as far as it goes really, for equally there's not anything much to wildly excite herein (that's not to say that many of the actual songs themselves, or the conventional alternative - the rabble-rousing rough-house-rowdy approach of the Clancys/Dubliners school - would necessarily excite me much either). Apart, that is, from an empathic take on A Song For Ireland itself and a particularly thoughtfully-turned version of The Ould Triangle. these, more than any other tracks, make it clear that this project is rather a labour of love for Michael and Anthony, who are companionably accompanied on their worthy mission by guest musicians Paul Gurney, Noel Carberry, Aoife Kelly and Johnny Duffy (on piano, bass, accordion, fiddle, banjo, uilleann pipes and whistles) in straightforward and unfussy arrangements.
Hereby refreshingly stripped of the customary layers of ages of grimy pub, club and showband sentimentality, these renditions of the songs that represent the Irish psyche together form a classy, and in the end likeable enough, tourist's-ear-view of popular Irish song, I'd say. So if you want to hear, and own for posterity, these reliable, pleasing and sufficiently definitive versions of such hoary old traditional and composed "Irish standards" as I'll Tell Me Ma, Rocky Road To Dublin, Star Of The County Down, Peggy Gordon, The Wild Rover, Sullivan's John, Mountains Of Mourne, Black Velvet Band, Rare Ould Times, Fields Of Athenry, Spancil Hill, Raglan Road and Danny Boy, together with efficient renditions of songs which have been eagerly (if contentiously) adopted by the Irish as part of their own modern tradition (Fiddler's Green, Dirty Old Town). then this generous 76-minute compendium will satisfy, to be sure. David Kidmam
The Irish Post 7.8.09
Baileys' cream of Irish favourites
I had not heard of The Baileys before this CD landed on my desk so I was not sure what to make of it. At first glance it seemed like yet another collection of well-known and already much-recorded songs that some people would say have been done to death by so many artists - and I don't exempt myself and Malcolm Rogers from this.
If you are looking for new treatments and imaginative arrangements of these songs then you will be disappointed but then that is not what this album is about. Every time you record a well-known song there are of course the inevitable comparisons with other artists but The Baileys seem to have transcended that by going for simple, basic but tasteful arrangements and letting the lyrics and the melodies speak for themselves, and it works very well.
The album can seem quite pedestrian and one-paced at times so I kept waiting for a track to lift it but it just didn't happen. Yet there is an honesty and earnestness about this record.
There are no pretentions whatsoever. Michael Banahan's voice treats the songs with total respect, sincerity and affection as befitting the content (unlike a lot of big-time artists) and Anthony McDermott's harmonies blend perfectly which indeed is one of the strengths of the album. You just sense without being told that these guys have clocked up the miles together and know exactly what they are doing.
The guest musicians on the album are used sparingly and sensibly with Noel Carberry's uilleann pipes and whistles blending in nicely. Aoife Kelly on fiddle, Johnnie Duffy on banjo with added backing vocals from Danny Sheerin all play their part.
However a special mention must go to Paul Gurney who did a terrific job engineering and mixing the recording as well as contributing piano, bass, accordion, guitar and percussion. Engineers are far too often the unsung heroes in recording studios and rarely get the recognition they deserve. Joe Giltrap.