Best CDs, March 2009

Of the CD's that came in to WRPI in March, 2009, my favorites were

Irish Pirate Ballads by Dan Milner and Friends
Matching Baggage by Bill and Kate Isles
Three's a Charm by the Dave Rowe Trio

We got the three Dave Rowe CDs because he played in the area in March, and of the three, I liked Three's a Charm best. The reasons I liked it best of the three were because it emphasizes seafaring songs more than the others, and because it's a live album. The spoken introductions to songs and the audience participation both enhanced the album. In the spoken introductions, I especially enjoyed hearing Dave Rowe's Maine accent, which is not ever-present, but rather, something which he slides in and out of.

In the vein of Three's a Charm, Irish Pirate Ballads had a lot of rousing seafaring songs.
Bill and Kate Isles are mellower than the others on the list. They have strong lyrics, strong voices, and strong instruments.