Time for some retail therapy.
Please help me pick out a few CD’s-- ITM (or reasonably close to it )
I am feeling glum, exhausted, despondent, disgusted and bitter. Like the gummy burnt coffee at the bottom of the pot. Like the tomatos that were left too long before being picked and are now gooshing their way into the ground. Like a mildewy shower curtain.
Like that :groan:
So please, no mournful airs…but nothing abrasively and insanely cheerful either.
I know I can count on you guys!
atta girl…
we’re doin’ a day at the opera and you want folk music. 
Doesn’t that pretty much describe opera? 
Actually right now I’m listening to this
Flook-- Wrong Foot Foreward
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SamD72aEfUM
Please don’t laugh at me. I’ve had a bad week
Feel free to point me to something more, uh, more, you know.
edited to add: Thanks Izzy!!
That definitely makes “burnt coffee at the bottom of the pot” look pretty insignificant… 
As I’ve said on the board before, the CD that made me really “get it” for the first time was An Historic Recording of Irish Traditional Music from County Clare and East Galway with the great Paddy Canny. You can read about it here. It never fails to put a spring in my step, though it will probably seem more traditional than you might be used to. Hope you feel better soon!
duplicate post deleted
I went here but could not find it…
Shanachie Records visit www.shanachie.com.
of course, I’m extra befuddled today. I probably looked right at it and didn’t see it. Moldy shower curtains aren’t too bright
though it will probably seem more traditional than you might be used to.
Some pure drop straight up? I’ll give it a try…
Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks!
[whine] I’m tired of all these growth experiences [/whine]
I purchased Paddy Carty’s “Traditional Irish Music” not that long ago and have really enjoyed it.
Wonderful flute music with some banjo accompaniment. Great selection of tunes too.
Another album I acquired recently (actually, from a fellow Chiffer) was the Mick O’Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh record, “Kitty Lie Over”.
The album is just fiddle and pipes. The pipes, I believe, are pitched in Bb (the fiddle often tuned down to match) and it give a very unique texture to some known and some not-so-well-known tunes.
I recently ordered the album “Doublin” by Paddy Keenan and Paddy Glackin
as well as “The Fire Aflame” by Liam O’Flynn, Matt Molloy and Sean Keane.
I’m very excited to be receiving those any day now.
That said, if you don’t have the Bothy Band or Planxty in your collection that’s always a great way to start too. I also enjoy the Chieftains first 10 albums.
Also, if you haven’t heard of this site:
http://www.juneberry78s.com/sounds/ListenToIrishDance.htm
there are many free trad recordings to be had.
You could also pop over to ClareFM.ie and download their traditional show that airs each night. That can also open you up to many new (to you) artists.
http://www.clarefm.ie/
If you don’t have Music at Matt Malloy’s, you should. No other record captures the social aspect of the music as well as this does.
Looks like it’s unavailable, sorry. 
True enough, a great set of tunes and songs on that CD.
Just be sure to skip over track 13 if you’re in a somber / melancholy mood.
I have been meaning to get the CD carrie mentioned. I just ordered it from OssianUSA.
Maybe I’ll get an email saying it’s out of print and out of stock, but so far it looks like they still have it.
http://www.ossianusa.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ossian&Product_Code=00541-CD
Caroluna, I have just copied my recommendations from other times I responded to this question. So my comments aren’t aimed at you and they may sound odd. I haven’t checked the links I put for places you can order the CD. I’m not sure why I ever put them in really. I would shop around if I were you. Prices can really vary, especially depending on postage. So ignore my links to music shops.
SEOLTAI SEIDTE - SETTING SAIL - FORTY-THREE HISTORIC RECORDINGS
"The Irish label Gael-Linn is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and has commemorated the event with the release of this magnificent collection, comprising all the recordings (43 in all) which the label released on twenty 78rpm discs between 1957 and 1961. Remastered to perfection by Harry Bradshaw, this collection is presented on two CDs, in a handsome DVD-style box, with a 96-page companion booklet authored by Irish Traditional Music Archives head Nicholas Carolan. The booklet, almost a book really, contains the detailed story of how the original records came to be made, comprehensive notes on all the performers and on each track, in particular with the full lyrics in Gaelic and English translation of the sean-nos songs which constitute about half the recordings. "
http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Various_Seoltai_Seidte.html
This is the CD set I got that introduced me to many of the old time musicians. The sound quality is excellent, no worries about it being from older recordings. The instrumental performances are on all the traditional instruments and are all solos by some of the greatest musicians. They are playing dance tunes and slow airs. Alternating between each instrumental track is a sean-nos track. The sean-nos (it means “old way” I think) style of singing is very, very different from anything I had heard. At first I did not like it. I decided not to “try” to like it, but I played these two CD’s every night after I went to bed and just let my ears get used to the style of singing. After a while I started to really love the songs. I’m just telling you this because it is such an important part of the music to be exposed to and learn about but it might take getting your ear accustomed to because it is so different and you could feel a little shocked and disappointed the first time you listen to this singing. But I would really recommend that you listen to it in a relaxed (not straining to “get” it) and undistracted way over and over to allow your ears to get used to the sounds.
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/r_index.htm
I’ll second the nomination for kitty lie over.
MICK O’BRIEN & CAOIMHIN O’RAGHALLAIGH: KITTY LIE OVER
Mick O’Brien: uilleann pipes, tinwhistle
Caoimhin O’ Raghallaigh: fiddle, tinwhistle
"kitty lie over is the new album from Mick O’Brien and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh.
It contains 15 tracks of traditional music from Ireland on uilleann pipes, fiddle and whistles. "
http://www.kittylieover.com/
I just love this CD. It is pretty new but very traditional. There are times when you almost go crazy, it is so exciting. I’m not a very good record reviewer ! You can hear some sounds clips at the above website.
DENIS MURPHY & JULIA CLIFFORD: THE STAR ABOVE THE GARTER
Denis Murphy: fiddle
Julia Clifford: fiddle
“Classic recording of this brother-and-sister duet, whose names are synonymous with the Kerry-Cork Sliabh Luachra tradition. Many of the tunes played here, in particular the polkas and slides, are typical of the local repertoire and have become well known through this and other recordings featuring Murphy, Clifford, and their famous teacher Padraig O’Keeffe.”
http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Murphy_Clifford_Star.html
I learned about this CD from the notes to kitty lie over. It is a re-issue of a recording made in 1969. I think the CD cover is quite unfortunate myself, but the fiddle music is very wonderful. It was different than I was expecting. I think because what I have heard is mostly music that has been altered to suit more modern audiences or something—I’m not sure. Anyway, the music on this CD is sort of complicated or complex, not sure how to describe it. Every time you listen you hear something new or you start to understand something a little better. And the two fiddles seem to do different things sometimes and the same thing other times. It will stay interesting for many, many listenings.
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/r_index.htm
Tobar an Dúchais
Brid O’Donohue: whistle
“The music on the CD was selected for it’s associations with the people Bríd learned from, in that sense it’s a very personal recording, here she plays the tunes learned when growing up. It is often said Irish traditional music is the music of people and places.”
http://www.bridodonohue.com/tobar_main.php
I do have this CD and it is very wonderful. You can go to the above website and hear some sound clips from it. They are toward the bottom of the page, so just scroll down.
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/r_index.htm
IRELAND’S WHISTLING AMBASSADOR
Micho Russell: whistle
“Ever since the earliest days of the folk revival in Ireland, people have been visiting the tiny village of Doolin in Co. Clare to hobnob with the celebrated Russell family, purveyors of a vast repertoire of tradional songs and music. Not least among them was the legendary Micho: singer, flutist, whistle player, raconteur, joke teller and altogether a unique individual. Here’s the first and only digital recording of one of Ireland’s singular treasures.”
http://www.elderly.com/also/recordings/items/PWP80001.htm
I don’t have this CD yet but I have seen it mentioned many times as one of the best whistle CD’s.
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/r_index.htm
“This CD catches the musical understanding that Kitty and Peter share with one another. The music is stately and relaxed at the same time. It eschews flashiness totally and gets under the skin of the tunes, a conversation between friends, never an argument or a race. If you wish to hear Clare music as it should be played, you will be hard-pressed to find a better example.” Tom Munnelly
http://www.theyllbegoodyet.com/index.php
This CD is just as the description says. The music just bounces along. It is not rushed—you can actually follow the tunes and hear what is going on. It is really sort of a relief to the mind to hear it—hard to describe really.
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/k_hayes2.htm
RONAN BROWNE & PETER O’LOUGHLIN: TOUCH ME IF YOU DARE
Ronan Browne: uilleann pipes, flute
Peter O’Loughlin: flute, fiddle
Maeve Donnelly: fiddle
Geraldine Cotter: piano
“A sequel to Browne and O’Loughlin’s great “South West Wind,” this is perhaps even better. 23 tracks of heavenly “pure drop” traditional music, mostly well-known tunes, but played with great style, at an easy pace, and with that richness of the flat instruments the musicians use–Browne plays pipes pitched in B and a a Bb flute, while O’Loughlin plays B and Bb fiddles as well as an Eb flute. Just gorgeous.”
I have this CD as well as “South West Wind”. It seems like I liked one of them better, but I’m really not sure. I’d say both are great.
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/r_index.htm
I remember having read about this one, and was going to ask about it.
But I couldn’t figure out how to ask, without looking like a complete idiot.
“Does anybody remember the CD that was recommended…I think it was a
couple of weeks ago…maybe a couple of months ago??..by a lady
whistler??..can’t remember her name, all I remember is that everybody said
she was really good”
Thanks all for the recommendations so far.
You know sometimes when your mind just goes around and around the same
track over and over, and you’re not getting anywhere with it, you just need
to set those thoughts aside?
Nothing like some fresh music to reboot your brain.
There is probably a study done somewhere, describing the effects of ITM on
alpha waves and serotonin levels…but that topic is perilously close to being
a medical post
Anything by Ronan Browne is always good.
Planxty is the shizznit(pardon my ebonics)
Look for some Cormac Breatnach(pardon my spelling) if you want something really different. Tin whistle(mostly lows) accompanied by jazz guitar. I find his music to be insightful(can that describe instrumental music?) and creative.
If you REALLY want something different…get some Flogging Molly. It’s mostly trad ballads(or trad melodies given lyrics) but done in a very rough-and-tumble rock style. “Drunken Lullabies” and “Swagger” are their best albums.
That is one fine list, Cynth. You are a treasure!
Synth
Triton Extreme 61
“When it comes to sounds, the TRITON Extreme is a treasure trove, delivering an out-of-the-box palette of sounds.”
Oh dear! Thank you both and I’m glad the list is helpful. I’m obviously one who loves to find pictures and cut and paste. Maybe I didn’t get to do enough of that in kindergarten .
Hope things are picking up a little for Caroluna!
Just to say that I got my copy of:
yesterday from OssianUSA. So it might be out of print but they still have some. I have only had a chance to listen once, but I like it a lot. It’s another one where they’re not playing so fast that your ears can’t follow the music.
