The Diamond Mountain Sessions [Compass]

1	A Costa de Galicia / Carlos Nunez 3:23
2	The Galway Girl 3:01
3	The Diamond Mountain 3:21
4	Slan le Van / John Hoban 3:57
5	The Four Jimmys The Fitz Theme 2:13
6	A Man of Constant Sorrow / Jackson Browne 3:35
7	Say You Love Me / Dessie O'Halloran 4:27
8	The Pernod Waltz / The Woodchoppers 2:03
9	The Hound of Letterfrack 4:46
10	On the Banks of the Old Pontchertrain 4:26
11	Love Love Love / Mary Staunton 3:21
12	Jota Do Porto Do Cabo / Carlos Nunez 2:43
13	Fire in the Bellies / Liz & Yvonne Kane 4:29
14	Northern Lights 7:19

Barnes & Noble

With a little help from her friends, this acclaimed Irish accordion player has made a landmark album. Utilizing guests ranging from U.S. folk stars Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, and John Prine to The Hothouse Flowers, Carlos Nunez, and Mary Staunton, Shannon transforms traditional material by way of vibrant contemporary performances. The American musicians find their Gallic spirit and the Irish players call on centuryie's old traditions to produce hearty and rousing sounds of both joy and anguish. Bringing together unexpected players into the mix has helped Shannon grow as an artist, and from the evidence displayed here, it sounds like the whole experience was a joy for all involved.

All Music Guide

While Sharon Shannon is perhaps best known as a talented fiddle and accordion player in Celtic circles, The Diamond Mountain Sessions should broaden her appeal. This album finds her joined by a multitude of talent, including luminaries such as John Prine, Jackson Browne, and Steve Earle. Since Shannon is primarily a musician and not a singer, the album also contains a number of fine instrumentals. Things get started with "A Costa de Galicia," a lovely jig full of intricate accordion work, and the pipes of Carl Nunez. Next up is a hard, driving Earle song, "The Galway Girl," that is immediately likable and will remind many of his best acoustic work. Browne's vocal on "Man of Constant Sorrow" is enriched by the addition of Mary Staunton on backing vocals, while Dessie O'Hollaran offers a more traditional take on "Say You Love Me." It is probably inevitable that Americana radio will push the vocal tracks, and while this isn't a bad thing, the instrumental tracks have just as much to offer. The Woodchoppers join Shannon on the lovely "The Pernod Watlz," while Liz and Yvonne Kane join her on the medley of tunes titled "Fire in the Bellies." Even though a number of players are present on each track, the arrangements are never crowded. Instead, the sound is open and airy. It is nice that artists like Shannon have been given the freedom to make albums that are stylistically all over the map like The Diamond Mountain Sessions. This broad musical palette serves to show that Americana and Celtic have a lot in common, and gives fans of either style a nice way to expand their tastes. Shannon's confident debut on Compass shouldn't be missed. Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.