Ceili Rain: Say "KAY-Lee"

Fronted by veteran songwriter Bob Halligan, Jr., Ceili Rain (loosely translated from Gaelic as "heavenly party") plays an amalgam of Celtic and pop rock that is underpinned by spiritual concerns. The twelve tunes on this album are well-crafted songs that could stand on their own without the Celtic instrumentation but are given added flavor by such additions as button accordion, fiddle, and tin whistle. It is evident that Halligan is attempting to write uplifting music that is spiritual without losing a mainstream audience. However, there is no denying that many of these songs could also find a quick home with a Contemporary Christian audience. (e.g "That's All The Lumber You Sent," "Ceili Rain" and "666 Degrees.") Some of Halligan's songs suffer somewhat from a naïve or moralistic point of view, and his voice can sound overly earnest to the point of bordering on annoying. However, there is no denying that Halligan has gathered a flight of top musicians who can rock out in Gaelic fashion. If Halligan can add subtlety to his lyrical approach and hone in the excesses of his voice, Ceili Rain will succeed on all levels. For starters, however, this is a solid effort.