CD Review: The Corrs - Home

What I know about traditional Irish music you could put on a postage stamp. I do however love the Corrs and I was thrilled to get to review their new album.

The Corrs, an Irish group from Dundalk, County Louth, mix traditional Celtic instruments with pop music to create a unique, upbeat fusion of Celtic Folk Pop. They consist of three sisters; Andrea Corr – lead vocals and tin whistle; Caroline – drums, bodhran (traditional Irish drum), piano, and vocals; and Sharon – violin and vocals who along with their older brother Jim – keyboards, guitar and vocals have been making music since 1991. Originally formed to audition for the movie The Commitments, they have had many top 40 hits and remain popular in the UK, Europe, and of course, their native Ireland.

Now, almost 15 years after their first album, they are returning to their traditional roots with the release of their seventh album Home. This album is both inspired by and a tribute to their mother Jean Corr who died in 1999. Jean along with their father would play in the local pubs at the weekend. Jean had a hand written songbook of the old Irish songs.

Andrea says this made up a large part of the material for this album. "She used to play every weekend in pubs with Daddy, and she'd written all these Irish songs out in a book. They're songs we've loved over the years, and because our parents played them in their band, they're very special to us."

I went online and obtained a few MP3’s of the old Irish folk songs and gave them a listen. I found that the Corrs versions of these classic old songs (in one instance as old as 1000 years) are true to the feel of the original. The Corrs have managed to make the songs their own without losing the integrity and charm of the originals. This is an album I really enjoyed almost completely from track 1 to track 12.

Article Author: A.L. Harper

I'm a writer and music journalist originally from Salt Lake City, but now living in Scotland. I was a Punk/Goth in the '80s and these artistic influences have stayed with me; although a love of Chopin, chamber music, and Spanish guitar would seem to belie this. …

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