When I first listened to Real World by the Young Dubliners, I thought this is a band that would be fun to see at a summer music festival. They are a lively Celtic-rock band with a mix of Irish and American musicians. Their music is comparable to that of the Pogues or U2 -- it has a good, hard beat to it and it is meant to be played loud.

The vocals on this album are strong and clear, and the songs themselves are very meaningful. Most of them are about being a band on the road and the different feelings involved in the lifestyle. The songs are a good mix of fast, hard rock and slower ballads with a rock beat to them.

I have two personal favorites on this album. One is "Evermore," a song that lead singer Keith Roberts wrote for his son. It is very personal and has good, Celtic-sounding instrumentals in it, unlike most of the tracks on the album, which sound more like heavy rock. The addition of the pipes really adds to it, and being a Celtic musician myself, I would like to hear a bit more of this from the band.

On that note, my other favorite is "Banshee" because it is completely instrumental, the only track of this sort on the entire album.

This band is much more influenced by rock music than Celtic from what I've heard on this album. If you're into rowdy, upbeat music, you will probably enjoy it.

- Rambles
written by Kaitlin Hahn
published 13 August 2005