Album Review:
The Words That Remain
- Release Date: 1998
- Genre: Celtic
- Label: Shanachie
- Artist: Solas
- Flags: Lyrics are included with the album
- Rating:
- Styles: Contemporary Celtic, Traditional Irish Folk, British Folk
- Track Picks: "A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn Ó," "I Am a Maid That Sleeps in Love," "Pastures of Plenty"
- Similar Albums: The Spellbound: The Best of Sharon Shannon, Best of Dolores Keane, One and All: The Best of Cherish the Ladies,
Celtic Experience [Single Disc] ,Synergy , Long Journey Home, So Far: The Collection 1979-1995, Tannahill Weavers Collection: Choice Cuts 1987-1996, Leahy, Loosen Up,Across the Borders , Shine, Rogha: The Best of Clannad, The Best of Altan
Review
The third album from the dynamic contemporary Celtic-folk band Solas is very consistent stylistically with their first two efforts, peppering traditional Irish folk songs, jigs, and reels with less conventional instrumentation. But if The Words That Remain sticks closely to the formula that brought immediate success to Solas and Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers, it also features a more eclectic song selection that demonstrates the flexibility of the band's distinctive sound. In addition to the expected Irish folk tunes (e.g., "I Am a Maid That Sleeps in Love" and "A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn O") there are brisk and energetic covers of Woodie Guthrie's "Pastures of Plenty" and Peggy Seeger's acerbic activist ballad "Song of Choice." These songs invert the band's most significant accomplishment: having first invigorated Celtic music by adding elements of American folk and bluegrass, Solas has apparently turned to invigorating American folk by adding Celtic flair. As always, the production is slick and seamless, employing a seemingly bottomless bag of musical tricks that keep the proceedings lively and unpredictable throughout. The record also features impressive guest contributions by Canadian banjo master Bela Fleck and vocalist Iris de Ment. The Words That Remain does nothing to diminish Solas' standing, achieved within only three years of their debut, alongside the Chieftains and Altan as masters of an increasingly visible musical genre. ~ Evan Cater., All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | iTunes | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Pastures of Plenty | |
Woody Guthrie | Solas | (3:24) |
| The Stride Set: The Stride/Tom Doherty's/The Contradiction/Viva Galicia | Seamus Egan, Winifred Horan, Mick McAuley, John Doyle | Solas | (6:09) | |
| The Waking up Set: The Carillons/Waking up in Wonderful Wark/Chris Droneys | Karen Tweed, Mick McAuley | Solas | (4:48) | |
| The Grey Selchie | |
Traditional | Solas | (6:10) |
| Song of Choice | |
Peggy Seeger | Solas | (3:37) |
| La Bruxa | |
Solas | (4:39) | |
| I Am a Maid That Sleeps in Love | |
Solas | (5:20) | |
| The Vega Set: The Banks of Lough Gowna/The Gaelic Club/Vega Mandolin | Jerry Holland | Solas | (4:13) | |
| A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn Ó [Sweet Comeraghs] | Solas | (4:43) | ||
| Sproggies Set: Sproggies Reel/Up All Night/Weaving Dreams | Charlie Lennon, Mick McAuley | Solas | (4:11) | |
| The Beauty Spot: O'Dowds/The Beauty Spot/Jessie over the ... | Ed Reavy | Solas | (6:59) | |
| Sráid an Chloig [Clock Street] | John Spillane | Solas | (3:37) |
