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Emerald Rose
Penny In The Well
Red-Haired Mary
Release Date: 6/16/2000
Carl McColman (5 out of 5 stars) In the two years since their first album, Emerald Rose has grown considerably, as composers of new material, as vocalists, and as performers. Bending Tradition showcases the band s blossoming musicianship. Songs like Penny in the Well and Pagan Girl have an infectious, almost pop feel to them, while Johnnie Cope and Red-Haired Mary confirm Emerald Rose s reputation as a good-times Celtic band. Larry Morris s jigs (including the cryptically named The Ferret s Nose ) sound like they could have been lifted straight out of the folk tradition. But the most luminous gem on this CD is Freya Shakti , a Goddess chant that deserves to take its place alongside Deena Metzger s Isis Astarte chant as a recognizable Pagan standard. To this reviewer, the boys in Emerald Rose haven t just bent tradition they ve contributed to it.